Hyderabad: As the deadline for the government’s Abhayahastam scheme approaches, individuals with cases related to their involvement in the Telangana statehood agitation over a decade ago are rushing to police stations to obtain details of the FIRs issued against them.
The Congress government has committed to allotting 250 yards of land to those who participated in the statehood agitation.
Banglaa Chaitanya, a native of Kamareddy district and an alumnus of Nizam College, who is currently associated with the BJYM, told Deccan Chronicle that he was involved in protests for statehood during his college days, including participating in a demonstration to lay siege to the Raj Bhavan.
Chaitanya, who was arrested by Saifabad police and remanded to judicial custody for two days, said that he has another case related to the agitation. Expressing surprise at the government's scheme, he promptly applied for the benefit as he pursues higher studies.
In the meantime, some people arrested for participating in the protests have identified themselves with different names to conceal their identity, aiming to avoid further complications. Despite being arrested and remanded, they have lost the opportunity for benefits since the procedure did not occur under their real names.
One such person has urged the state government to consider their situation. "We request the government and the Chief Minister to make arrangements to verify our antecedents related to the agitation so that we can also become eligible for the benefit," he added.
In 2014, after the formation of the state, the state government withdrew all cases related to the statehood agitation.
