Normal life paralysed as TRS chief's health deteriorates

Normal life was paralysed for the second consecutive day in Telangana as violent demonstrations rocked the region in support of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president, K Chandrasekhar Rao, whose fast-unto-death entered ninth day on Monday.

As the health condition of Rao, being treated at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here, deteriorated, his supporters stepped up violence and targeted public and private properties during the 48-hour bandh observed by the TRS and other organisations that have plunged into the ongoing agitation for a separate statehood for Telangana.

The pro-Telangana activists disturbed train services and the state road transport corporation completely suspended the operation of its buses in the region, comprising 10 districts including the state capital. Shops and establishments remained closed. The state government had already declared a 15-day holiday for all colleges and universities located in the region.

With students virtually taking over the statehood movement, the Osmania University campus turned into a battleground with a large posse of policemen trying hard to quell the trouble. Police personnel caned students on the campus to foil their plans to take out a rally to the state Assembly. In turn, the agitators rained stones on policemen, leading to tension in the area.

About 15 students and five journalists were injured in the police lathicharge. The student leaders and also TRS legislators Harish Rao E Rajender, who went to the campus to meet the agitating students, were arrested.

Chief minister, K Rosaiah, ordered a probe into the incident when media persons protested against the “police high-handedness”.

In an unprecedented move in the morning, the TRS legislators obstructed introduction of a condolence motion in the Assembly on the opening day of the winter session. Angry TRS members interrupted the chief minister while he was introducing the motion to condole the death of his predecessor YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash on September 2.

Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party passed an unanimous resolution entrusting the Telangana issue to party president Sonia Gandhi. The state Congress president, D Srinivas, left for Delhi to appraise the party high command about the prevailing tense situation in the region.

The doctors attending on the TRS chief said his sugar levels had shot up. The fasting leader had yesterday rejected the chief minister’s appeal to call off the hunger strike.