Varavara, Haragopal held on way to Adivasi meet in Telangana

Poet Varavara Rao, academic Haragopal and writer Vanamala were among the scores arrested on Tuesday while on their way to a public meeting of Adivasis in Warangal district of Telangana.

After their arrest, Varavar, Haragopal and Vanamala were shifted to Ghatkesar police station in Rangareddy district.

Reports said several hundreds of tribals on their way to Warangal in trucks and jeeps were also detained at different entry points.

The police denied permission for the meeting, suspecting that Maoists would attend the meeting in the guise of tribals.

Telangana Democratic Forum (TDF), the organisers, later claimed that Hyderabad High Court had granted them permission to hold the meeting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On Monday, the police in Mattewada in Warangal district made announcements asking people not to attend the TDF public meeting as it had no police permission.

The police clamped restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the town.

--IANS

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