All That Jazz At Sadak Bandh

About 700 people, including MLAs and MLCs, were arrested during the sadak bandh agitation held on Thursday by the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, and supported by TRS, BJP and CPI parties. However, the police claimed that no cases have been registered against the leaders and activists who were put under arrest.

Mahabubnagar district SP Nagendra Kumar said that the Telangana activists who were taken into custody will be released in the evening. The arrested include 13 MLAs and 2 MLCs, he said. "We have arrested the MLAs with the consent of the Assembly Speaker," he said.

Four cases were registered for damaging government property (vehicles). If it is proved that the legislators were involved, criminal cases will be booked against them, the SP said.

Meanwhile, TRS President KCR and CPI leader K Narayana described the arrests as undemocratic, and demanded that the arrested leaders - including KTR, Ch Ramesh, Etela Rajaiah, Jupally Krishna Rao, and Jitender Reddy - be released immediately.

The agitation took off with JAC members holding a dharna on the Hyderbad - Kurnool natinal highway, where K Harishwar Reddy was arrested. At Rajpur, MLC Janardhan Reddy and P Ravinder were held.

T Harish Rao, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Swami Goud participated at the Sadak Bandh at Palamakula near Samshabad. At Bhutpur, locals came in large number to the highway, and police arrested them along with MLA Vinay Bhaskar. Jupally Krishna Rao, Etela Rajender and Jitender Reddy were taken under arrest at Alampur toll plaza. Several vehicles were damaged at the toll plaza.

CPI leaders who tried to block the highway were also taken into custody.

KTR was held at Annaram while led a rally to block the highway. He was taken to the Shadnagar police station. Former MLA Lakshma Reddy and 20 others were arrested at Macharam.

At Kothakota in Mahbubnagar, the police arrested the CPI cadre that pelted stones on them.

Prof M Kodandaram and Srinivas Goud were arrested at Alampur, and were taken to Rajoli police station. They sat in protest at the police station. At Shadnagar, BJP workers held a dharna. (INN)