Sunday, October 16, 2011

Telangana rail roko stir begins with leaders arrest; railways cancel 126 trains

Several Congress and TRS leaders were taken into preventive custody for their attempt to disrupt rail services during the three-day 'rail roko' agitation, which began on Sunday in Telangana region in support of the statehood demand.

TRS's Medak MP Vijaya Shanti was detained near Lakadi-Ka- Pul station in hyderabad, while Ponnam Prabhakar, Congress MP from Karimnagar, and former minister Jeevan Reddy were taken into preventive custody in Karimnagar district.

Another Congress MP, S Rajaiah, was taken into custody after he and scores of supporters squatted on railway tracks and staged a demonstration at Kazipet railway station in Warangal district.

Siddipet MLA Harish Rao (TRS) was detained near Akkanpet railway station, while TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's son and MLA K T Rama Rao and daughter K Kavitha (who heads TRS's cultural outfit Telangana Jagruti) were also taken into custody.
Police thwarted attempt by Rama Rao and his supporters to lay siege to the residence of state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy. Kavita was taken into custody for squatting on railway tracks at Moula Ali station here. Scores of pro-Telangana protesters, who squatted on rail tracks, were detained in the region.

Shouting pro-Telangana slogans, the agitators squatted on railway tracks and staged demonstrations near railway stations in Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Adilabad and Khammam districts.
Travellers had a tough time with South Central Railways cancelling 124 passenger trains and diverting and rescheduling others which pass through Telangana region.

Local trains between Hyderabad-Lingampalli and Secunderabad-Lingampalli, however, were plying normally, while five passenger trains left from Secunderabad and Kachiguda stations here with police escort.
"All those who have indulged in violations will be booked. Police will file cases against the law-breakers under bailable and non-bailable sections," Police Commissioner A K Khan said.

State police have made elaborate security arrangement to thwart any untoward incident. Several companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Hyderabad and across Telangana region.
Meanwhile, tension gripped Osmania University after police fired teargas shells on pro-Telangana students when they allegedly indulged in stone-pelting.

"Some protesting students threw stones at security forces after they were stopped from taking out a rally. Few teargas shells were fired to disperse the agitators," a senior police officer said, adding that no one has been arrested.
In another incident, a policeman was injured after protesters threw stones at security personnel at Mahbubabad in Warangl district. Police resorted to a "mild lathicharge" to disperse the mob, an official said.
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