Kodandaram Held: Tension In Warangal

Tension prevailed in Warangal and Nalgonda districts on Sunday, after the police arrested Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof. M Kodandaram to prevent him from visiting the Singareni Collieries coal belt.

Kodandaram, along with other JAC leaders, boarded a bus at Gun Park opposite the Assembly in Hyderabad, to visit Warangal to express solidarity with the agitating SCCL employees.

Another convoy, led by TRS leader Nayani Narasimha Reddy, left for SCCL mines in Karimnagar district.

However, Kodandaram's convoy was stopped by the police at Pembarti. While refusing to allow him to proceed further, police took Kodandaram and other leaders into custody.

As a result, hundreds of Telangana activists gathered at Pembarti and raised slogans against the police. Jangaon DSP Nagaraju said Kodandaram would be sent back to Hyderabad as his entry into the SCCL belt could disturb the law and order in the area.

However, the news of Kodandaram's arrest sparked protests across Warangal and Nalgonda. Hundreds of activists created blockades on the highway to stop the police from sending Kodandaram back to Hyderabad.

Telangana activists staged sit-in protests on the highway at several places in Jangaon, Alair, Raigiri and Bhongiri, demanding their release. Vehicular traffic on the Warangal-Hyderabad road came to a halt due to these protests.

After several hours of tension, the police was able to take Kodandaram and other leaders to Alair Police Station, where they were released.

Later, talking to reporters, Kodandaram condemned the arrests and accused the state government of "trying to suppress the peaceful agitation using coercive methods". He described the arrests as illegal, and said that the police intervention in the agitation was unwarranted. He appealed to the Telangana activists to continue the agitation in a peaceful manner.

Meanwhile, Nayani Narasimha Reddy and other leaders were arrested while they were proceeding towards Godavarikhani in Karimnagar district. Later, they were shifted to the Sircilla Police Station, from where they were released after a few hours. (INN)