Peace shattered, violence engulfs Telangana

Telangana region -- Hyderabad and nine other districts -- remained tense on Wednesday night with fresh protests erupting near Osmania University as Pro-Telangana agitators pelted stones on buses and demonstrations broke out in different towns.

Authorities rushed additional police reinforcements and braced for the 48-hour bandh called by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti angered over the Centre's latest statement on the Telangana statehood issue calling it an act of betrayal. The TRS is spearheading the campaign for a separate state from Andhra Pradesh.

The protesters threw stones at RTC and private buses plying near Osmania University campus and Tarnaka area damaging its windowpanes, though police personnel immediately rushed to the area and used mild force to disperse the agitating groups.

Hundreds of students raising 'Jai Telangana' slogans took to streets and resorted to road-blockades near Osmania University, Tarnaka-cross roads and Tarnaka fly over and on way towards Uppal.

Anticipating more trouble security was beefed up at important locations in the city with deployment of additional security forces, a senior police officer said.

"Protesters pelted stones on some buses near Tarnaka and Osmania University. Security has been enhanced at the Osmania University campus and other locations and additional forces have been deployed in view of the protests," Hyderabad City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao told PTI.

Alleging that the Centre with its latest statement "betrayed" on its previous announcement on initiating process for formation of Telangana, pro-Telangana supporters resorted to demonstrations and burning effigies at Warangal, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Nalgonda districts of Telangana region.

According to a report from Nizamabad district, students held dharnas and burnt effigies of UPA leaders.

Meanwhile, raising pro-Telangana slogans hundreds of students took out a candle-light rally in Lak-di-ka-Pul area in Hyderabad on Wednesday night while there were reports of stone pelting on buses at Kukatpally and at Narketpally area on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

A heavy police force, including paramilitary units, was deployed at the Osmania University campus last month after clashes broke out between police and students over separate Telangana movement.

Pro-Telangana agitators burned two RTC buses and four stationary lorries near Chaitanyapuri area in the city.

Enforcements have been sent as the situation is tense, police said.

Activists also damaged window panes of 22 buses at Kukatpally area while 20 buses were attacked at Amberpet and Ramanthapuram area. Shopping malls were stoned at.

Some students sustained injuries as police used baton to disperse a protest near Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University in Rajendra Nagar in the city.