Million March Crowd Swells

Trying to estimate the number of people who have gathered on the Tank Bund today to take part in the Million March is a very tough job.

The crowd can be seen starting from the Ambedkar statue and stretching right up to the end of the Tank Bund, almost up to the Viceroy Hotel.

Though the official figures are not available yet, it is estimated that over 1 lakh persons have made their way here, dodging the heavy police bandobust on all the roads leading to the Tank Bund.

The police, with the support of the paramilitary forces, had begun its efforts to thwart the Million March almost a week earlier by resorting to arresting students and leaders right across the 10 districts of Telangana.

The police had barricaded almost all roads leading to the state capital, and the city has been virtually put under siege.

With the South Central Railways cancelling all MMTS services and the APSRTC suspending its services partially, the pro-Telangana activists were forced to resort to walking long distances to reach the Tank Bund to answer the call of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TPJAC) and take part in the Million March to press for the introduction of a separate statehood bill in Parliament.

On many roads leading to the Tank Bund, the razor wire used to control the protestors was brushed aside and lay mangled on the side of the road. The police personnel, outnumbered heavily, are seen huddled in groups and keeping a watchful eye on the 'Marchers'.

One of the policemen on duty expressed his concern about what will happen if the situation gets out of hand. "There is no leader to control the mob if it turns violent. All leaders have been arrested as an attempt to thwart the Million March," said the policeman.

Courtesy: INN