Thousands turn up for Telangana march
Braving police blockade, thousands of activists on Sunday forced themselves into the heart of the state capital at Necklace road, just a stone throw away from the secretariat, to take part in the march for Telangana statehood led by the Telangana Joint Action Committee.
Those addressed the rally declared that the activists would stay put at the venue until the UPA government announced the process for creation of a separate state.
Though it was considered to be a peaceful affair after the government itself allowed the organisers to conduct the march two days ago, several entry points of the venue on Sunday witnessed violent scenes with police taking on the surging activists with lathi charge and firing of teargas shells.
The trouble started when police allowed just one entry point for the incoming activists at the venue and set up barricades on other sides besides stopping them from taking out rallies to the march venue. Organisers accused the police of stopping the activists from entering the city.
A number of road transport buses were taken off the road and city-bound trains cancelled from yesterday to restrict the inflow of activists on law and order considerations. However by evening, the venue adjoining the Hussain Sagar Lake was completely filled with Telangana activists.