Police appeal student activists in Osmania Univ. for restrain in demonstrations

HYDERABAD - Hyderabad police on Sunday appealed to student activists of Osmania University and other educational institutions, demanding the creation of a separate Telangana state, to observe restrain and protest peacefully.

The students had resorted to stone pelting on police personnel when the latter tried to quell the rally and protest by students following authorities’ prohibitory orders in the state capital of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday (February 20).

“We are appealing to student leaders to express their democratic protest in a democratic and peaceful form and not to indulge in collateral damages. A lot of policemen are getting injured, officers of senior ranks are also getting injured in the stone pelting, and lots of civilians are also getting injured. Then buses are being burnt. This is not a right way to protest in any democracy,” said Praveen Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police of Hyderabad.

Kumar, however, refused to comment on the possibility of the presence of Maoists cadres in the student ranks.

“It is not a question of Maoists and something else. But basically, we are dealing with a situation on a day-to-day basis. Our basic interest is to protect the career of students and support the university administration,” added Kumar.

Pro-Telangana activists have been agitating since December 23, after the Central government deferred its promise to initiate the process for bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.

The agitations have resulted in a series of violent incidents in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, as well as some other parts of the state.

Telangana region is spread over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)