Hyderabad:
Clashes between activists and police continued today at the Osmania University campus even as a 48 hour bandh began here and in all 10 districts of Telangana demanding separate statehood for the region. Police used teargas shells as scores of pro-Telangana students pelted stones at the police station located at the University campus, East Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Y Gangadhar told PTI.
"The pro-Telangana activists, staging a demonstration in front of the Osmania University police station, started hurling stones on police personnel from different directions following which the police retaliated by using tear gas shells to disperse the activists," the officer said.
Earlier, at least 120 pro-Telangana activists including members of the ABVP and Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Convener M Kodandaram were arrested near Tarnaka area adjacent to the University campus when they took out rallies in support of the bandh.
Demanding the release of arrested students and Kodandaram, protesters staged a demonstration before the police station in the University premises and also raised slogans seeking withdrawal of police forces from the campus.
To intensify the agitation for separate statehood for the region, the JAC is observing a bandh today and tomorrow in all 10 districts of Telangana region.
Pro-Telangana students had yesterday repeatedly clashed with police at the Osmania University campus and in different parts of Hyderabad after they were not allowed to march to the Assembly.