Police arrest hundreds of T-activists; TPJAC claims moral victory

Hyderabad, June 14 : Several leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and other parties were arrested by the police on Friday when they tried to participate in the “Chalo Assembly” rally to press for the demand for a separate Telangana State.

Lok Sabha MPs Dr G Vivek, Manda Jagannatham, Vijay Shanti, Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram, CPI State Secretary K Narayana, BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreyya, MLA T Harish Rao and several others were taken into custody by the police at different locations.

MPs Vivek and Jagannatham were arrested near the Nizam Club along with former MPs Vinod and Jitender Reddy when they tried to march towards the assembly building along with their supporters. Medak MP Vijayashanti was arrested near the Assembly building along with her supporters.

The TRS, BJP and CPI MLAs were arrested when they staged protest near the Gate-1 & 2 of the Assembly after the House was adjourned for the day.

TJAC chairman Kodandaram and TNGO leader Srinivas Goud were arrested near Ashok Nagar crossroads. They staged a sit-in protest alleging the police repression. Telangana Jagruti president Kavitha was arrested near Indira Park. Nearly 30 CPI activists were arrested by police after raiding their party office.

Several others leaders and activists were taken into custody by the police at different places across the region. Police resorted to heavy lathi-charge at some places which injured many workers. The police is yet to confirm the total number of arrests made on Friday.

Meanwhile, the situation remained tense in the Osmania University campus on the third consecutive day on Friday. Some students pelted stones on the police after they were prevented to take out a rally as party of “Chalo Assembly” protest. Police used teare gas shells to disperse the agitating students. At least three students were reportedly injured in the clashes.

Talking to reporters after his arrest, Peddapalli MP Vivek condemned the government for trying to suppress the voice of Telangana. “Is it a democratic country or British Raj,” he asked while slamming the government for suppressing to right to express dissent.

Meanwhile, Kodandaram claimed moral victory on the grounds that despite suppression and deployment of thousands of security forces, the pro-Telangana activists came out on roads to express their demand for formation of Telangana State. He said that the government behaved in a completely undemocratic manner. INN