After rally, Telangana bandh begins today

Telangana bandh as Hyderabad hosts UN meet
In spite of a call for a bandh, Hyderabad remains peaceful and the city seems to be functioning as normal. This may come as good news as the city is hosting a UN conference on biodiversity.

South Central Railway sources said some of the train services in the region were cancelled. MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System) services in the city would not operate till afternoon.

Telangana protests: After rally, 48-hour bandh begins today
After a show of strength on Hyderabad's Necklace Road with thousands of people gathering for the Telangana march on Sunday, the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) intends to keep up the crescendo.

On Tuesday, a hunger strike has been planned at Indira Park in Hyderabad. Then, on Wednesday, the Steering Committee will meet to decide the future course.

As part of their protest, the students of the Osmania University will today organise a rasta roko in protest against police restrictions. The university has postponed examinations scheduled for today. Six long distance trains too have been cancelled.

The JAC says that the responsibility for bringing a separate Telangana state is now on ministers from the region. Their ultimatum: Bring Telangana or resign.

After a show of strength on Sunday with thousands of people gathering for a march, the Telangana Joint Action Committee has given a call for a 48-hour bandh from today.

Telangana march: Thousands of protesters defy deadline, refuse to disperse
Braving police action and heavy rain, thousands of protesters who had gathered to take part in the Telangana march refused to leave Necklace Road in Hyderabad even as the deadline of 7 pm set by police ended on Sunday evening.

Thousands march for Telangana amid clashes in Hyderabad
In a massive show of strength by Pro-Telangana supporters, thousands gathered at Necklace Road near Hussainsagar Lake in Hyderabad on Sunday as tension gripped the Andhra Pradesh capital following clashes with police.

Protesters clash with police after they tried to break down security cordon in Hyderabad ahead of the Telangana march.

Protesters pelted stones, set an OB van of a television channel on fire near the railway track along the Necklace Road.

Aerial view of thousands of supporters gathering at Necklace Road near Husain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad for the Telangana march.

There is a sea of Telangana supporters at the Necklace Road. The crowd, however, is aggressive and is forcing most mediapersons to leave the venue.

Telangana Congress MPs came out on the road walking to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's camp office to protest against preventive arrests and sat on a dharna on the road. All of them were arrested and taken away by the police. The MPs say permission was given only in name but people wre being prevented from taking part in the march.

Telangana Congress MP's will sit on dharna outside Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's office

Just hours ahead of a scheduled pro-Telangana march in Hyderabad, the situation is tense at the Osmania University - so far, the epicentre of protests for separate statehood. The police resorted to lathi-charge and firing tear gas shells after students tried to break the security cordon as they approached the Necklace Road, the destination of today's rally.

A counter rally has also been planned by votaries of united Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada.

Entry points to the city have been sealed and preventive arrests are being carried out. The police have said hidden cameras have been fitted all over the city to keep an eye on anti-social elements.

The government has imposed several restrictions on the rally. 12 express trains and 25 passenger trains have been cancelled; all cinema theatres and multiplexes in Greater Hyderabad limits will remain closed today.

High security arrangements are in place in the city to ensure that no untoward incident occurs due to the proposed march, which is expected to witness a huge turnout.

The rally has been called by the Joint Action Committee of Telangana, the engine of a movement that wants the state of Andhra Pradesh to be bifurcated. Hyderabad is geographically a part of the Telangana region; the other two parts of the state are Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.