Hyderabad:
Police in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh have reportedly arrested hundreds of activists of various political and non-political organisations to prevent them from reaching Hyderabad for Friday's march to the state legislative assembly.
Leaders of Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which has called for 'chalo assembly' to press the demand for separate statehood to the region, were arrested in various districts of Telangana, according to reports. Police allegedly rounded up leaders and activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and other parties in Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Adilabad and other districts.
Police arrested leaders and activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and other parties in Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Adilabad and other districts.
In Karimnagar, 1,400 people were arrested by the police. In Warangal, another stronghold of the Telangana movement, dozens of top leaders of TRS and other constituents of JAC were arrested. Hundreds of others were held to maintain peace.
The JAC has condemned the arrests and vowed to go ahead with the march despite the government refusing permission for the same.
"Everybody has a right to protest in a democracy but the government is trying to suppress a democratic movement," said TRS leader N. Narasimha Reddy. He warned that the government would be responsible for any violence during the march.
Prohibitory orders banning gatherings, meetings and rallies have been imposed in several districts of the state. Police are also reportedly keeping a tight vigil on the buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation along with private vehicles coming to Hyderabad.
Tension prevailed in Osmania University campus in Hyderabad earlier on Wednesday as the students clashed with the police while marching towards the state Assembly. The police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the students.
The state government has already ruled out permission for the march. The state government has said since the march could lead to violence, no permission could be granted.
Major Industries Minister J Geeta Reddy, however, said if the JAC wants to hold a meeting on the city outskirts, the government may consider giving permission.
The ministers who belong to the Telangana region of the state had on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to give permission for the march. The chief minister, however, rejected the appeal.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the BJP, constituents of the JAC, too have requested the Chief Minister to allow the march. The TRS legislators even submitted a memorandum to Mr Reddy in the Assembly today.
The police Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad till June 18, banning meetings, rallies and processions.