Police warn Osmania univ students against march

Hyderabad: Hours after students of Osmania University announced their plans to hold a meeting and gave a call for a 'Chalo Hyderabad' march on January 3, police denied permission for the protests while university authorities announced closure of hostels.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao said no permission would be given for 'vidyarthi grajna' or "students roar" planned by the students' Joint Action Committee (JAC) on January 3 at the Osmania University.

The commissioner asked the students from Hyderabad and other places not to proceed to Osmania University on January 3, saying there would be prohibitory orders in force.

He warned that action would be taken against those violating the orders.

The JAC has threatened to lay siege to the city with students from across the region joining the march if the central government failed to make an announcement for initiating the process for formation of Telangana state by January 2.

In another late Sunday development, Osmania University Vice Chancellor Tirupati Rao issued an order closing all hostels in the campus till January 5.

With this announcement, police may now evict students from the hostels to foil the proposed protest march and meeting.

The JAC leaders have reacted strongly to the developments saying the government would be responsible for its consequences.

The meeting and march could be crucial as a similar call for a march to the assembly Dec 10 coupled with a 'fast unto death' by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao forced the central government to announce that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.

After the protests and mass resignations of legislators from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, the government made a second statement December 23 underlining the need for consultations on the issue.

As the latest statement is seen as u-turn by the central government, the agitation resumed in Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

Protests continued in the region for the fifth day Sunday demanding that the central government immediately initiate the process for separate statehood to Telangana.