Tension returned to the Osmania University campus on Wednesday when students took out a rally in support of the ‘Chalo Assembly’ programme, and clashed with police on being stopped in their tracks at the Andhra Mahila Sabha arch.
Protestors argued with police in riot gear as they were prevented from going out of the campus, leading to verbal arguments and eventually stone pelting. Police retaliated by lathi-charging the protestors and lobbing tear gas shells to disperse them. Earlier, a group of students took out a motorcycle rally from Arts College while raising pro-Telangana slogans.
They were stopped at the AMS arch on the northern end of the campus leading to the clash.
“We want to meet the higher-ups and ministers to seek permission for our Chalo Assembly programme on Thursday,” the students told police officials, who were firm in barring their movement outside the campus.
Police in riot gear erected barricades and formed cordons. The students, meanwhile, were adamant in proceeding ahead. As the lathi -charge did not have any impact, police used tear gas shells on the students, who were hurling stones from behind the trees.
The pitched battle continued for nearly three hours. Three police officials, including OU Inspector P. Ashok sustained minor injuries in stone pelting. No arrests were made. Authorities literally sealed the OU campus with coils of concertina wires at all entry points and deployed policemen in good numbers.
Various students groups had announced the ‘Chalo Assembly’ on Thursday. Vehicular traffic was diverted at Tarnaka and NCC gate. Police are anticipating trouble at the campus again on Thursday as different student organisations and groups vowed to march towards the Assembly, seeking creation of a separate Telangana State.
Police deployments continued at different points around the campus. As part of the security strategy, police higher-ups barred movement of processions or activists of student organisations from the campus on Thursday.
