BeyondHeadlines Special Correspondent
Hyderabad: The police have to impose massive traffic and security restrictions before the ‘Million March to Hyderabad’ called by pro-Telangana groups, which want introduction of a bill on the separate statehood issue in the ongoing Parliament session. Traffic restrictions came into force early this morning and office-goers had to face problems reaching their destinations.
The ‘Million March,’ which aimed at sending across a message to the centre on formation of Telangana, is scheduled to be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at Tankbund at the Hussainsagar lake in the heart of the city.
The police, who have denied permission to the march, said that this programme might affect normal life and might even lead to law and order problems and that they had already imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in Hyderabad and Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limits, banning any kind of assembly of persons, rallies and processions.
A police officer monitoring buses and trains in Warangal district said, “There is no permission for the march. We are also keeping a watch on the movement of anti-social elements as they may mix up with the protesters to create law and order problem.”
Heavy security arrangements were made in different parts of Hyderabad with deployment of hundreds of security personnel drawn from the state police and central paramilitary forces. The police also barricaded surrounding route with barbed wires ahead of the march. Police, on Wednesday, had asked office-goers to carry identity cards with them.
With Intermediate, ICSE and CBSE exams on, police had advised parents and students to plan their routes and start early to reach exam centres. “Under these tense circumstances, what and how will the students write exams,” asked a parent.
Meanwhile, police have started making preventive arrests in different Telangana districts preventing pro-Telangana activists from reaching Hyderabad. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said preventive arrests were being made only against those who were violating the ban orders.
As part of the march, the JAC asked the people to take a pledge at 4 PM to work for the formation of a Telangana state. Telangana leaders in all parties and various peoples organisations has announced support for the event.
