Osmania University tense as Telangana students begin march

HYDERABAD - Defying ban on gathering of people, hundreds of students of Osmania University Monday began their march to the Andhra Pradesh state assembly complex to demand a bill in parliament for carving out a separate Telangana state.

Tension prevailed at the university campus as a large number of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to prevent the march as the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) appeared determined to go ahead with its protest.

The assembly building has turned into a fortress as the police and paramilitary forces have sealed all adjoining roads. Motorists had a harrowing time as the traffic has been diverted on the roads leading to the assembly complex.

The alternate routes were choked with huge traffic jams. The police were not even allowing pedestrians to move on the roads around the legislature.

However, a group of girl students managed to sneak through the security cordon and reach the police control room near the assembly building. Raising slogans of “Jai Telangana”, the girls tried to move towards the assembly premises but were prevented by police.

About 40 students were arrested and shifted to waiting police vehicles.

Police have denied permission to the JAC to take out its proposed march. The university witnessed violence during many such attempts in the past.