Train services remained paralysed in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday on day two of the rail roko agitation in support of the demand for statehood.
Some MPs and MLAs arrested in connection with the agitation on Saturday were remanded to judicial custody on Sunday. A group of pro-Telangana activists who squatted on rail tracks at Gandhipuram in Khammam district and organised cultural programmes on rail tracks were taken into preventive custody.
There were reports of protestors staging demonstrations near railway stations and attempting to disrupt rail services by squatting on rail tracks in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Nizambad and Warangal districts but police foiled their plans and detained many of them.
Activists also resorted to demonstrations in different Telangana districts including Hyderabad demanding release of their leaders and others who were arrested on Saturday.
Police thwarted attempts of ABVP activists to storm the Ministers Quarters in Hyderabad and took into custody around 10 members of the organisation.
South Central Railways (SCR) has cancelled about 124 passenger trains while diverting or rescheduling some other trains passing through different areas in Telangana region.
The otherwise busy Nampally, Secunderabad and Kachiguda railway stations here wore a deserted look.
Additional DGP (Railways) V.S.K. Kaumudi told PTI that the situation was peaceful. “The rail roko agitation is on. But we are doing our job,” he said.
Meanwhile, MPs and MLAs belonging to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the ruling Congress who were arrested on Saturday along with hundreds of pro-Telangana agitators were remanded to judicial custody on Sunday.
