Kodandaram arrest

As the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) has decided to go ahead with their proposed Nirudyogula Nirasana Pradarsana (Unemployed Protest Rally), defying prohibitory orders imposed by the police, the police has arrested hundreds of activists all over the Telangana. TJAC Chairman Prof M Kodandaram was arrested from his house at 3 am, allegedly by breaking his house doors.

Police practically closed all routes towards Hyderabad deploying heavy forces, checking all vehicles entering into the city and arresting youth and students wherever found to be reaching the city. Large number of student JAC leaders were also arrested. In districts also barricades were placed to check vehicles movement.

After withdrawing is petition seeking permission to conduct the rally from the High Court, when the judge suggested to shift their venue from the heart of the city to Nagole, last night Kodandaram announced that the rally to demand the state government to fulfil its promise of one lakh jobs will be held as planned in the heart of the city even as the police made it clear that there is no permission for the rally.

Kodandaram said though the High Court had asked them to hold the meeting at Nagole Metro rail grounds, which was not feasible to do so at the eleventh hour. He also refused a suggestion to postpone the rally for a Sunday.

Meanwhile, police forces have been drafted from across the state and the area around Indira Park has been taken under control by the police. Water cannons and barricades have been kept ready. The Rapid Action Force has also been kept ready.

Accusing that the government has become intolerant to criticism, the TJAC chairman said the police and the government seem to be determined to foil their attempts and muzzle the voice of democracy. But, he asserted that they too are equally determined to go ahead with their plans to hold the rally and meeting.

He deplored that even while the issue of permission was pending in the court, the police since Monday had arrested over 600 people and large-scale arrests could take place by Wednesday morning.