Telangana continues to burn despite KCR's call

Situation in Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh continued to be tense on Friday with a series of agitations, despite the relaxation in the 48-hour bandh call by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and other parties in view of Christmas.

Widespread protests, demonstrations, road blockades and rallies were held in several Telangana districts while Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) activists allegedly attacked Civil Supplies Department's godown and burnt vehicles in Mahabubnagar district.

In Warangal city, the JAC protesters allegedly pelted stones at the house of Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah, demanding him to resign the post and extend support for separate Telangana statehood. However, the police prevented them from entering into the minister's house.

Raising pro-Telangana slogans, hundreds of students took out massive rallies and later assembled in front of the Kakatiya University in Warangal and staged a demonstration.

In Adilabad district, pro-Telangana activists also held rallies, staged road blockades and burnt effigies, while in Karimnagar agitators damaged eight trucks besides burning a car and a jeep in Godavarikhani, police said.

The protesters also set afire railway signal cabin office near Raghavapur railway station late Thursday night, police said.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti gave the two-day bandh call on Thursday after Centre decided to put the statehood issue on the backburner. The JAC, however, withdrew the bandh call following an appeal made by Christian organisations in view of Christmas

Lending support to the Telangana movement, workers of Singareni Colleries abstained from their duties. Police said some unidentified persons partially damaged the statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Pothugal village under Mustabad police station.

Protests also continued in Medak district with activists of different political parties resorting to road blockades, dharna and burning effigies at several places.

Effigies of noted Telugu actor Mohan Babu, who has joined united Andhra Pradesh movement, were also burnt in Zaheerabad and Kondapaka mandals, they said.

The protesters also set afire tower of a private cell phone operator in Siddipet mandal while a telephone exchange and a gram panchayat office were torched at Kondapaka.

They also burnt private vehicles at Zaheerabad.

Over 70 persons were taken into preventive custody and additional security forces were deployed in Medak district, police said.

In Armoor and Banswada mandals of Nizamabad district hundreds of activists of JAC organised rallies and staged road blockades demanding separate Telangana. Similar protest rallies were held in Nizamabad town.

Raising anti-UPA slogans the protesters who resorted to hunger strikes demanded the Centre to come out with a clarity on Telangana issue at the earliest.