Violence mars Telangana March

At least 20 people suffered minor injuries in the incidents of police lathicharge, stone pelting, and other acts of violence in different parts of the city during the Telangana March on Sunday.

While police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells at several places, the pro-Telangana activists damaged and set ablaze vehicles belonging to police, media and private individuals. The activists also pelted stones at I-Max, two restaurants at Necklace Road and other business establishments. Two police vehicles and one OB van of a private media channel have been torched by the activists near Necklace Road.

The State Secretariat became the epi-centre of tension for several hours when the police prevented the Telangana activists from going towards the Necklace Road. Police had resort to lathicharge several times to disburse the activists. Despite hurdles created by the police, T-activists reached the Telugu Talli flyover in different batches. However, they were not allowed to proceed further by the police.

There was also tension at Secunderabad Clock Tower as leaders and activists of CPI-ML New Democracy were prevented by police from taking out a rally.

Meanwhile, the police also took TRS MP Vijaya Shanti into custody when she staged a dharna near Telugu Talli flyover in protest against the police refusal to allow Telangana activists from going towards Necklace Road. She alleged that the police was trying to sabotage the Telangana March.

The Telugu Desam Telangana Forum members too staged protest at Martyr's Memorial at Gun Park on Sunday. After paying homage to the martyrs of Telangana, the TDP leaders and workers led by MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao staged dharna before the Assembly building. They were arrested by the police and were later shifted to a nearby police station.

CPI State Secretary K Narayana, BJP State president G Kishan Reddy, former union minister Bandaru Dattatreyya and other leaders also took out rally from Indira Park to Necklace Road.