Miscreants torch train

Hyderabad, February 24: Pro-Telangana supporters set fire to a passenger train between Kesamudram and Tallapusalapalli railway stations in Warangal district on the second day of the 48-hour bandh in Telangana districts on Wednesday which brought normal life to almost a halt.

Director General of Police K. Aravinda Rao said three coaches were damaged in the incident, including two of them which went up in flames. The train which left Kazipet was bound for Manuguru.

A total of 16 trains were stopped in various parts of the region, the DGP added in a press release.

A report from Warangal added that the agitators forced the passengers of the train to alight before resorting to arson and pelting stones on another train on the same route. A group of students of KU raided the residence of IT Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah in the district headquarters town and entered into a scuffle with the police on guard.

Some students were severely beaten when they pelted stones and tried to storm inside. In Karimnagar town, Telangana supporters and Telugu Desam leaders were involved in street fight with body blows and lathis at Telangana Chowk and near the police headquarters. The groups encountered again during a protest near the office of the SP. Tension mounted in Narsapur of Medak district when the agitators damaged the statue of Laxma Reddy, the late husband of Women and Child Welfare Minister Sunita Laxma Reddy. She rushed to the spot and hurled a challenge at them to face her politically.

A temporary wall was erected to block the Bhongir-Nalgonda road. A petrol bunk was damaged when the staff refused to sell fuel at Kadthal in Nirmal mandal of Adilabad district.

The police release stated that 974 persons were taken into custody. Bandh successful

Telangana JAC chairman M. Kodandaram said the two-day bandh was a great success and the future course of stir would be decided at tomorrow’s steering committee meeting.

-Agencies