Protests Against G-1 In Telangana

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission's Group-1 Preliminary exams were, on Sunday, conducted in a tense atmosphere in the Telangana region, with opposition from students as well as politicians belonging to the ruling party.

The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC), which has been spearheading the protest for the postponement of the examination, found support not only from the leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, but also from the ruling Congress party over its bandh call on Sunday.

Congress MPs Gutta Sukendar Reddy, Madhu Yaskhi, Manda Jagannadham and G Vivek, along with TPJAC leaders, were taken into police custody after they converged on the Osmania University campus and joined the students in protesting against the examinations.

TRS leader N Narasimha Reddy was arrested by policemen from his residence, as a precautionary measure in view of the bandh call.

The police also took some Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists into custody at Pulla Reddy College at Towli Chowki.

In Karimnagar, which witnessed some of the strongest protests over the examinations, MP Ponnam Prabhakar led the protestors in the agitation against the Group-1 exams. He, along with other protestors, received minor injuries in the jostling with the police who stopped him when he tried to barge into an examination centre.

TDP MLA Gangula Kamalakar and Vijaya Ramana Rao were taken into custody while they were protesting against the Group-1 examinations in the district.

Police also placed TRS leaders Vijayarama Rao and Prabhakar under house-arrest as a preventative measure in Khammam district.

In Nizamabad, Telugu Desam MP Pochaaram Srinivas Reddy was arrested when he, along with his supporters, tried to stop buses from plying. The protestors also blockaded the road, leading to the traffic coming to a standstill.

Police also took TDP MLA Jogu Rammanna when he led protests over the Group-1 exams in Adilabad. TRS MLAs Arvind Reddy and Kaveti Sammaiah were also placed under house-arrest.

In Medak, TRS MLA Harish Rao was taken into custody, while police also placed former TRS MLC R R Satyanarayana along with the JAC convenor Ashok Kumar under house-arrest.

In Warangal Congress MP Rajaiah and other leaders were arrested by police when they sat in dharna in front of a public school and demanded postponement of the exams. TRS MLA Vinay Bhaskar was arrested at Kakatiya University.

In Nalgonda, TRS activists were arrested when they attempted to barge into an examination centre.

Courtesy: INN