Students' rally turns violent in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Feb.21 (ANI): The rally organised by the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) turned violent here on Monday when the police and paramilitary personnel deployed on the university premises stopped the students' group.

"The state government is trying to stop us with its police forces but we are frightened. Today, we have organised this rally to make our bill (for a separate state of Telangana) included in the parliament session," said Sreekanth, a student.

The police fired tear gas to quell the protesters when they tried to remove the barricades put up by the police.

Earlier a group of students from the university have boycotted the semester examination demanding a bill in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament for creation of the province.

Demand for a separate Telangana state has seen violent protests and political power play, with more than 300 people killed between 1969 and 1972.

Several protests and shutdowns had brought Andhra Pradesh to a near halt last year as pro-Telangana activists pressed their demand for the separate province. (ANI)