Two activists of a newly formed outfit went up an advertising hoarding at Koti on Friday, threatening to end their lives in protest against alleged misuse of lands taken over by Industries Department.
The duo’s action created tension for nearly five hours but the protestors eventually came down following appeals by police and assurance from the Government. However, the protestors Vijay Kumar and Anand, convenor and secretary respectively of Telangana Badugu Vidyarthi Samakhya Joint Action Committee were slapped with criminal cases by the police after coming down.
The two office bearers went up the massive hoarding at the Koti bus-stop around 7 a.m. The hoarding had a steel staircase to go up for any repair work but it was closed with steel sheets and locked as protestors went up it during pro-Telangana agitation frequently creating tense moments.
Vijay and Anand broke open the lock and went up. As their supporters raised slogans on the road, the two activists charged that the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation was misusing the lands allotted to it in and around the city by the erstwhile united A.P. Government.
They alleged that some lands were being used for purposes other than industries but no action was being taken against the officials and persons concerned. Sultanbazar ACP R. Giridhar, along with local police and firemen, rushed to the spot and tried to convince the agitators to come down.
As they didn’t pay heed to his appeals, the Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali’s son Azam came there and assured on behalf of the Government to inquire into their allegations. Using a fire-tender with hydraulic ladder, they were brought down. The ACP said a criminal case was registered against the two persons.
