Telangana bandh: Students, police clash at Osmania University

Hyderabad, Feb 22: Clashes between activists and security forces continued at the Osmania University (OU) campus on Tuesday, Feb 22. Even as a 48-hours bandh demanding separate statehood to the region began in the state capital and 10 Telangana districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Police used teargas shells as scores of pro-Telangana students started throwing stones on the OU Police station located on the varsity campus, East Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Y Gangadhar told PTI.

"The pro-Telangana activists, staging a demonstration in front of the OU Police station, started hurling stones on the police personnel from different directions following which the police retaliated by using tear gas shells to disperse the activists," the officer said adding that heavy stone pelting is still continuing in and around the campus.

Earlier, at least 120 pro-Telangana activists including members of the ABVP and Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Convener M Kodandaram were arrested near Tarnaka area adjacent to the OU campus when they took out rallies as part of their agitation in support of the bandh.

Demanding the release of arrested students and Kodandaram, protesters staged a demonstration before the OU Police Station and also raised slogans seeking withdrawal of police forces from the campus.

ABVP activists took out a rally from Manjeera Hostel on the campus towards Tarnaka when they were taken into custody.

To intensify the agitation for separate statehood for the region, the JAC is observing a bandh today and tomorrow in all 10 districts of Telangana region.

Pro-Telangana students had yesterday repeatedly clashed with police at the Osmania University campus and at different parts of Hyderabad, after they were not allowed to reach the Assembly.

PTI