Police warns Telangana protestors of strict action

After declaring Saturday's 'Chalo Assembly' by different Telangana students committees as illegal and imposing prohibitory orders in the state capital, the Hyderabad police warned of stringent action against those violating the orders.

The Telangana Students Joint Action Committee and Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee have given a call to lay siege to the Andhra Pradesh assembly on February 20 demanding resignations of elected representatives of the region.

Anticipating trouble ahead of the budget presentation tomorrow in the state assembly, Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said the protest call was "illegal" as organisers have not taken police permission.

The police commissioner said, "Stringent action will be taken as per law against those who violate the prohibitory orders."

Over 20,000 security personnel, including the city police, would be deployed at vulnerable points and near the assembly to thwart attempts by students to take out the march, he said.

Intelligence inputs suggested that there were possibilities of violence and the police have taken necessary precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident, he asserted.

The city police chief further cautioned students and others from Hyderabad and other districts not to reach or congregate in the city.

Replying to a query, Khan indicated that if situation warranted, the police would definitely make preventive arrests.

The police have also imposed massive traffic restrictions in different parts of the city and flyovers shall remain closed.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers across the city and barricades were being erected on different routes leading to the assembly.