Pro-Telangana protests intensify, Hyderabad under seize

Hyderabad, Feb. 20 (ANI): Pro-Telangana students have started protest rallies outside the Osmania University campus on Saturday, even as heavy security measures have been imposed across Andhra Pradesh to prevent any disruption. Road and rail traffic has been badly affected.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan has apologized to people for the security restrictions.

Following a bomb scare, at least nine trains were stopped near Vikrabad and Warangal, and the railway protection force is checking the tracks.

According to reports, pro-Telangana activists broke barricades outside the state Assembly and tried to enter the House and disrupt the ongoing budget session.

The students are demanding resignation of MLAs from Telangana region, and they hope the resignations will pressure the Central government into initiating process for formation of a separate state.

"Please try to understand why we are participating in such a struggle. We have no jobs. Our parents are in debt. There is no money at home. It is a matter of life and death for us," says Satish, one of the students.

Over 15000 policemen and paramilitary personnel are on duty in Hyderabad alone as in a pre-cautionary measure to hold up protests.

Commissioner A K Khan said: "It is a surcharged atmosphere and if they do anything illegal, we will have to take action and book cases. That could spoil their future as well."

Ten TRS MLAs have resigned, the Congress MLAs have been reined in and the TDP is sitting on the fence. (ANI)