Hundreds of activists and leaders were arrested by the police as the 3-day rail roko agitation began in the Telangana region on Saturday.
Tension prevailed in all 10 Telangana districts, including the state capital of Hyderabad. Unlike the last rail roko agitation when activists were allowed to squat on the railway tracks, the police acted tough and did not allow the activists or leaders at most places to even go to the tracks or stations.
Several leaders were taken into custody even before they reached the protest venues.
Sources say that the police started picking up prominent Telangana leaders and activists from their residences since Friday midnight. Several leaders, including former minister Komatireddi Venkat Reddy and TRS MLAs Nallala Oderu and K Sammaiah, have been placed under house arrest.
Ignoring the warnings issued by the state police, the Telangana activists indulged in violence and also damaged railway tracks at several places.
A violent mob attacked the Nellikuduru Police Station at Pembarthi in Warangal district and got the Congress MP Balram Naik released from the custody.
A similar attack was staged in Town-II Police Station in Nalgonda district, by supporters of former minister Komatireddi Venkat Reddy. However, the police foiled the attack and the damage was restricted to the police station's gate.
In Mahaboobabad of Warangal district, activists resorted to heavy stone-pelting, in which at least 3 policemen were injured.
However, at some places the activists tried to damage railway tracks. In Nelkonda of Warangal district, activists removed the clippings and fish plates of tracks for upto one kilometre.
Police sources say that those behind the incident have been identified and later arrested.
In Peddapally of Karimnagar district, the activists removed a part of the rail track. Similarly, in Nizambad district the fish plates on tracks passing through Bodhan mandal were removed.
Osmania University, too, witnessed violence on Saturday, when students resorted to stone-pelting after the police foiled their attempt to take out a rally to Seetaphalmandi.
Police fired at least 10 rounds of tear gas shells to quell the protests, in which one student reportedly suffered a serious injury.
Many MPs and MLAs of Congress, TRS and BJP were arrested when they went to participate in the rail roko agitation.
While Congress MP Ponnam Prabhakar was arrested in Karimnagar district, BJP MLA Laxmi Narayana and TRS suspended MLA A Ravindra Reddy were arrested in Nizambad.
Rajya Sabha MP K Keshava Rao, MPs K Rajagopala Reddy and G Sukhender Reddy, MLAs Komatiredddy Venkat Reddy and Ch Lingaiah were arrested in Nalgonda district.
The police took TRS MP Vijayshanti into custody when she tried to stage protest at Lakdikapul in Hyderabad.
Congress MPs G Vivek and S Rajaiah were arrested in Ramagundem and Kazipet, respectively.
Nizamabad MP Madhu Yashki Goud was arrested in Nizamabad while he was on the way to a railway station. However, he was arrested for causing a traffic jam, and was later shifted to the Toopran Police Station.
TRS MLA K Tarakarama Rao was arrested twice on Saturday. First, he was arrested near Seetaphalmandi in Hyderabad when he tried to reach the railway station.
After his release a few hours later, he participated in a dharna in front of Home Minister P Sabita Indira Reddy's residence. He was later shifted to the Golconda Police Station.
MLA K Venugopal Chary was detained at Basra Railway Station in Adilabad district.
TRS MLC Kuppala Eshwar was also arrested in Peddapalli of Karimnagar district.
Tension prevailed near Moula Ali railway station when the police detained Telangana Jagruti president K Kavitha. She was arrested along with her supporters, when she tried to reach the railway station as a part of the rail roko.
The TRS activists initially tried to prevent the police from taking her into custody, and later stoned the bus in which she was taken away. Kavitha and other supporters have been booked under the Railways Act.
TRS MLA T Harish Rao, along with his supporters, was arrested in Akkannapet of Medak district, amidst high tension. Police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to control the mob there. Harish Rao was later shifted to Ramayampet police station.
Sources say that a majority of activists and leaders arrested on Saturday have been booked under the Railways Act and for other serious offences. (INN)