String of cases on Telangana march leaders

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Reacting quickly after Sunday’s violence, the Hyderabad 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 resorted to violence,” police commissioner Anurag Sharma said. He said that around 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, Sec-tions 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 extr-emists 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.”

T-rampage derails Hyderabad train services

MMTS commuters found that the service was cancelled for the day, and thousands of long-dista-nce passengers landed up in Secunderabad when they intended to go to Hyderabad on Monday.

This was the outcome of the damage to the railway’s Hussainsagar junction cabin after around 1,000 Telangana supporters went on a rampage during Sunday’s march. After overpowering over 100 uniformed men statio-ned in the area, they bur-nt down the cabin and ma-nhandled railway staff, said RPF chief B. Mohan.

The entire signalling system was damaged in the attack, and railway officials pegged the loss at around Rs 60 lakh.

Restoration work could be completed only by late evening on Monday. “Many trains touching Hyderabad, both incoming and outgoing, had to be cancelled due to the damage,” said an official.

MMTS trains between Falaknuma, Lingampalli, Secunderabad and Hyderabad remained cancelled. Some incoming trains from different destinations which were to reach Hyderabad on Monday had to be cancelled as well.

Senior officials from South Central Railways visited the site to check the damage to property.