Sadak Bandh hits traffic

TJAC claims big success

• Police say it went off peacefully
• Kodand and others sent to custody till April 4
• Thousands arrested and let off by evening
• SI on duty dies in mishap

Hyderabad: Vehicular movement was badly hit for major part of the Thursday on Hyderabad � Kurnool NH-7 , as the pro-Telangana activists laid siege to the vital corridor as part of the TJAC sponsored Sadak Bandh programme. Except for the death of a police Sub-Inspector who was part of the bandobust, in a freak accident, no untoward incidents were reported. The Cyberabad Police Commissioner Dwaraka Thirumala Rao declared by evening that the programme had been peaceful. On the other hand the organizers claimed the bandh to be a huge success. In all 25 vehicles including five RTC buses, 10 lorries and a few cars came under the attack of the protesters at different places. Some of them were damaged in stone pelting as the protesters turned unruly. Police arrested thousands of activists as well as leaders of different political parties who took part in the protest forcing the vehicles off the road. Traffic to the international airport was not affected. Police declared in the evening that the NH-7 had been cleared by then and people could travel to Bengaluru. Non-bailable cases were slapped against important leaders including TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram, TRS legislators Etela Rajender, Jupalli Krishna Rao, former MP Jitender Reddy and TNGO leader Srinivas Goud. The Magistrate in Alampur remanded them to custody till April 4. Bail petitions were moved on their behalf which were rejected. However, the Magistrate instructed the police to produce them on Friday morning. Decrying the police cases against the leaders the TNGOs gave a call for black-badge protest on Friday. Later the TJAC held an emergency meeting to work out follow- up action. A The arrested agitators were released by evening but leaders were detained in the police stations. Pre-empting the determined bid made by the agitators to stop the vehicular traffic as part of the protest that was denied permission, large contingents of police took positions well in advance at all the seven highway points between Shamshabad and Alampur identified for enforcing the road blockade. They arrested the protesters as soon as they reached the venue to take part in the protest. Apart from TJAC, the TRS, BJP,CPI and CPI (ML, New Democracy) actively participated in the Sadak Bandh. At places the police diverted the traffic travelling between short-distance local places. TRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao staged a sit-in protest for over two-and-a-half hours in Palamakula village, some 16 km from Shamshabad airport before he was arrested by the police along with his supporters. Initially he wanted to organize the sit �in protest near the airport, but he shifted the venue of the protest in the last-minute so as to avoid confrontation with a police forces deployed in a big way. Those arrested on the occasion included about 20 MLAs, MLCs and scores of TJAC leaders. A Sircilla legislator KTarakarama Rao was also arrested, but was let off subsequently. Telangana protagonists staged a massive demonstration before the police station demanding the immediate release of the arrested activists. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, presently in Delhi, condemned the arrest of protesters. In the Assembly TDP and BJP members raised the issue and criticised government for creating hurdles to what they called a democratic protest. P Chinnappa, SI from Warangal, on bandobust duty, was killed as a van hit stationary police vehicle on the Hyderabad-Jadcharla road. Four home guards were seriously injured in the mishap.