Reacting quickly after Sunday’s violence, the city police on Monday registered around 30 FIRs against protesters who took part in the Telangana march, including organiser Prof. Kodandaram, for violence on Necklace Road, attack on eateries and violence elsewhere. “We have booked the org-anisers who took permission for a peaceful march and then violated the conditions which led to law and order problems. They reso-rted to violence,” police commissioner Anurag Sha-rma said. He said that arou-nd 40 groups, organisations and parties took part in the rally, adding, “We’re in the process of identifying those who resorted to violence.”
The cases have been booked for unlawful assembly, rioting, arson, mischief with fire and criminal conspiracy. In some cases, Sections dealing with attempt to murder have been included as several policemen, including IPS official Rajasekhar, were injured. “The cases were booked against Prof. Kodandaram, Swamy Goud and others as they were responsible for instigating the mob,” a CCS police official said.
Around 25 cases have been transferred to the Special Investigation Team of the Central Crime Station, from the OU, Ramgopalpet and Saifabad police stations. At Osmania University, the police booked four cases over the Telangana march and three over the violence on the campus. Kacheguda ACP Ranjan Ratan Kumar said, “These cases were booked against the student leaders of TSJAC, OUJAC, Telangana Vidyarti Parishad and TVV.” The railway police booked another case for damage of their property at Hussainsagar, Mr Sharma said. Top officials also asked city police to identify the left wing extremists suspected to have taken part in the violence.
Refuting reports that rubber bullets had been used on Sunday against agitators, Mr Sharma said, “We didn’t use rubber bullets. We maintained utmost restraint.”
Telangana ignores bandh call
The impact of the bandh called by the Telangana Students’ JAC on Monday was minimal in the city and Telangana districts. While some schools and colleges located near the OU campus had declared Monday a holiday, others functioned normally elsewhere in the city. Shops and other commercial establishments including banks, petrol pumps, theatres and malls functioned as usual. The APSRTC also operated bus services normally. TSJAC had called the bandh to protest the alleged high-handedness of the police during Sunday’s Telangana March at Necklace Road demanding statehood for Telan-gana, which was supported by TJAC, OUJAC and other T-outfits.