Pro-Telangana students clash with police

Pro-Telangana students of Osmania University on Monday clashed with police who lobbed teargas shells to prevent them from taking out a rally in support of the separate statehood demand, sparking tension in the university campus.

A group of students, raising slogans in support of Telangana, tried to proceed towards the Secretariat as part of the Sakala Janula Samme (strike by all sections of people)when they were stopped by security personnel at the NCC gate near the OU campus, police said.

After the rally was stopped, students resorted to stone-pelting, following which police lobbed teargas shells to disperse them, they said.

Meanwhile, violence also broke out at the Nizam College in Basheerbagh area when police stopped another group of students trying to take out a rally. Following this, the students pelted stones at the police personnel and attacked cars parked near the college, police said.

Police resorted to lathi-charge and dispersed them. "Thirty seven students were taken into custody. The agitators damaged four cars," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) Akum Sabarwal said.

Hyderabad police have already imposed prohibitory orders banning meetings, rallies and processions in the city.