Students’ violence over Telangana worsens

The students' protest over the Telangana issue took a tragic turn with a one of them attempting self-immolation on Saturday. S. Yadaiah, a student of intermediate second year, set himself ablaze at the main entrance of Osmania University as police had prevented students from marching towards the state assembly to lay a siege demanding resignation of all elected representatives of Telangana region.

The youth, a student of Noble College in the city, poured kerosene, set himself ablaze and tried to run towards the police barricade. He suffered serious burn injuries and was taken to a hospital. In a suicide note, he wrote that he was taking the extreme step to protest the delay in formation of Telangana state.

The incident heightened tension at Osmania University, the hotbed of Telangana movement, as hundreds of students clashed with police and paramilitary forces.

High tension prevailed at the Osmania University campus on Saturday as hundreds of students began a march towards the state assembly over the Telangana issue even as police tightened security, closed several roads to traffic and cancelled local trains to foil their plan. Violating prohibitory orders, the students began the rally at Arts College on the university campus but were stopped by the police at Vidyanagar, just outside the campus and about 15 km from the assembly building. Raising slogans of "Jai Telangana" amid drumbeats, the students tried to force their way through several barricades.

Over 1,000 students had planned to lay siege to the assembly, demanding the resignation of all elected representatives from Telangana over the demand for separate statehood. Nizam College near the assembly complex was also tense as police closed the gates of the college and hostel to prevent students from coming out. A similar situation prevailed at City College in the old city where students were prevented from taking out a rally by police.

All roads leading to the assembly complex in the heart of the city and routes out of Osmania University were sealed by police, at least five flyovers were closed and restrictions were imposed across the city. Unprecedented security was in place as 20,000 personnel from police and paramilitary forces were deployed and prohibitory orders were imposed in Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerates.

- Asian Tribune -