T for tension at varsities in Telangana

Hyderabad,Dec 24: Fear and tension gripped all educational institutions and university campuses across the Telangana region on Thursday after the Wednesday's announcement by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on the issue of Telangana state.Police had to use baton to restore order at the Osmania University campus after students, protesting against the Centre’s statement which is widely seen as putting the Telangana issue on the backburner, took to violence.Students attempted to take out a mock funeral procession denouncing the failure of the UPA government to solve the difficult situation after a rally in front of the Arts College building. Local police, supported by anti-riot Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces prevented the students at the police station close to the Arts College building.

The students, in no mood to heed the requests of the police, began pelting stones at the cops who were forced to use batons. Meanwhile, members of the Joint Action Committee of Osmania University Students Association began a fast over the issue in front of the Arts College.The Government has issued orders banning rallies and processions in and around the university and in the city till January 1.Troops were also deployed on Telangana University in Palamuru in Nizamabad district and Kakatiya University in Warangal as the students were responding vigorously to the 48-hour bandh call given by Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader K Chandrasekhara Rao.

Tension prevailed at the Nizam’s College here as the students picked an argument with the police. They blocked roads and resorted to sit-in agitations raising slogans against police entering the campuses and hurled stones at them. The police burst teargas shells to quell the agitating students and resorted to mild lathicharge to main to maintain law and order.