Unemployment rally: Hyderabad police break door to arrest professor Kodandaram

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad police used unprecedented force to crack down on activists of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), who were to hold a protest rally on Wednesday demanding jobs for the unemployed.

A team of police officers from East Zone broke down the front door of the house of TJAC leader Prof. Kodandaram in the early hours of Wednesday and forcibly entered his house to arrest him and his 20-odd associates.

Police then went on to arrest other leaders from their homes and hideouts in the city. Hundreds of students and activists and Congress leaders were detained before they could begin the Nirudyoga Nirasana rally.

Police in riot gear and paramilitary forces occupied the streets near Indira Park and Sundaraiah Vignana Kendra, where the rally was to be held. Senior police officials said that since no police permission was given for the rally, all the detainees are put under preventive detention.

According to police, as many as 447 people were arrested in the twin cities, while more than 300 people were arrested by Cyberabad and Rachakonda police. Half of those detained were released by 7 pm on Wednesday. The rest will be released at night, officials said.

Police to release all
Besides TJAC leaders, police arrested Congress leaders such as Secunderabad MP Sri Anjan Kumar Yadav, MLA Vamshi Chand Reddy, Mallu Ravi, and Krishank. Police explained that Anjan Kumar Yadav was picked up near the Kamathipura police station because his presence would have created law and order problems.

After Prof. Kodandaram’s arrest, his wife approached Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy seeking his release.

The situation was tense in front of the Kamathipura police station, where Prof Kodandaram and others were being held. He was released later on Wednesday.

Additional forces had to be deployed to control the protesters. Meanwhile, city police commissioner Mahender  Reddy said that orders were in place as a precautionary measure and all the detainees would be released as they were only detained as a preventive measure.

“There are no criminal cases booked since no offences have been reported,” Mr Reddy said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Zone) Dr Ravindar said that Prof. Kodandaram had insisted on taking out a rally and was going ahead with the public meeting without permission. “So, we had to take him and 20 associates into custody in the early hours,” he said.

Several groups and political parties have condemned the heavy-handed response of the city police and the TRS government. The main opposition parties, Congress, CPI and CPI (M) slammed the state government for cracking down on the protest called by the TJAC.