Cases filed against KCR, others for Million March

The Hyderabad police have registered 16 cases against pro-Telangana activists, including Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders K Chandrasekhar Rao, in connection with the violence during the 'Million March' on Thursday.

"We have registered 16 cases and arrested 55 persons today in this connection," Police Commissioner A K Khan told PTI on Friday evening.

Harish Rao and Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman M Kodandaram are among those against whom the cases have been filed.

A senior police officer said K Chandrasekhar Rao, Harish Rao and Kodandaram were booked under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code.

Cases for attempt to murder have been filed against unnamed persons.

The charges against the agitators include desecration and demolition of statues of eminent Telugu personalities, attack on the police and media personnel, among other things, he said.

Reacting to a query, the city Police chief said police were receiving a large number of complaints from media personnel as journalists and photographers were attacked.

Protesters allegedly snatched cameras and video-cameras, and threw them into a lake besides torching some OB vans of local Telugu TV channels.

The mob also attacked Congress MPs Keshava Rao and Madhu Yashki Goud by hurling slippers and water bottles at them. T-JAC had called for the 'Million March to Hyderabad' demanding introduction of a bill for separate Telangana state in the ongoing session of Parliament.

An assistant commissioner of police and seven other police personnel were injured when protesters pelted stones.

Commenting on the registration of cases, TRS MLA T Harish Rao claimed that it was done to please the chief minister, who hails from non-Telangana region.

He alleged that police had taken into custody scores of people who had nothing to with the 'million march'. TRS leaders on Friday met police officials and demanded that the Telangana supporters, who were arrested, be produced in court.