Pro-Telangana parties march to the Andhra Pradesh assembly was foiled today by the police who took into preventive custody around 1400 statehood activists, including senior leaders of TRS and BJP, and blocked all roads leading to the legislature building here.
A massive security arrangement was made for the 'Chalo Assembly' protest march organised to press for the creation of a separate Telangana state.
"The security arrangements ensured that the protest passed off peacefully. The attempt by protesters to proceed towards the Assembly and disrupt the proceedings was foiled as they could not reach the Assembly premises," a senior police officer told PTI.
Around 900 protesters were taken into preventive custody under Hyderabad Police Commissionerate while 476 were taken into custody under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate besides scores of statehood supporters were also detained and taken into custody in different Telangana districts, the officer said.
Those taken into custody were later let off, he said.
Amid fears of violence, the police turned the Andhra Pradesh Capital into a fortress by deploying about 10,000 policemen and 20 companies of central para-military personnel.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerates to ensure smooth functioning of the Assembly, which is in session, and to prevent any untoward incident.
Several roads leading to the Legislative Assembly were closed and only government, emergency personnel and media persons were allowed after thorough checks on way to the Assembly and Secretariat buildings.
The Assembly was adjourned for the day around noon without transacting any real business as TRS, BJP, CPI and other pro-Telangana parties stalled the proceedings over the statehood issue.
A high drama was also witnessed in the Assembly premises with two TRS MLAs climbing the TRS Legislature Party office building and threatening to jump off.
Holding black flags, they demanded that those detained in connection with the 'Chalo Assembly' be released forthwith.
The MLAs were, however, brought down by the security personnel after about an hour.
Meanwhile, other TRS MLAs burnt an effigy of "Seemaandhra government" near the legislators' entrance gate.
State police rounded up a number of TRS, BJP, CPI and other pro-Telangana MLAs, leaders and activists to prevent them from going ahead with the 'Chalo Assembly' rally.
The police had denied permission to the protest rally suspecting that Maoists might infiltrate into it. Similar protests organised by the pro-Telangana groups earlier had turned violent.
