Telangana Bandh evokes poor response in city

The Telangana Bandh call given by Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee and other parties on Monday evoked poor response across the region, especially in the State capital.

Most of the educational institutions and business establishments remained opened while the services of RTC buses were partially disrupted. Although some private schools and colleges were closed, the State-run educational institutions functioned normally. However, some institutions were closed early following thin attendance of students and faculty members.

In view of damage to the signaling equipment at Hussain Sagar junction cabin on Secunderabad division during the 'Telangana March' violence on Sunday, the South Central Railway cancelled all MMTS (local train) services and six other trains including Chennai-Hyderabad Express, CST Mumbai-Hyderabad Express, Pune-Hyderabad Express, Tirupati-Hyderabad Rayalaseema Express, Vishakapatnam-Hyderabad Godavari Express and Narasapur-Hyderabad Express. The CSMT (Kolhapur)-Hyderabad scheduled for Tuesday has also been cancelled.

The bandh had a partial response in other districts of Telangana including Karimnagar, Medak, Nalgonda Mahabubnagar and Warangal districts. The pro-Telangana activists held demonstrations at various places demanding release of activists and leaders who were arrested in connection with the Telangana March.

Meanwhile, the Osmania University campus remained tensed for the second consecutive day on Monday. Sporadic incidents of stone pelting and lathicharge were reported from the OU campus while the police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitation students. A group of students also held protests before the OU Police Station and some of them also pelted stones at the station.

Trouble began when the students tried to take out a rally from the Arts College and were moving towards the Tarnaka. However, the police foiled the rally and pushed behind the students using mild force. All entries to the campus were blocked using barricades and police forces were deployed in heavy numbers to avert any major trouble.