Hyderabad, January 09: On and off clashes between security forces and students continued on the Osmania University (OU) campus for the third day running even as a team from the AP State Human Rights Commission arrived to take note of the police action.
Students continued to fight pitched battles with security troopers while violence spread to nearby localities, catching some motorists off-guard. When compared to the last two days, the police appeared to show some restraint today.
Though the vacation began for OU students on the occasion of Sankranti from today, few left the campus. The peace rally taken up by students from Arts college to the NCC gate turned violent this morning when policemen carried out a mild lathicharge to disperse them. Soon, students pelted stones on the policemen who retaliated with tear gas shells. After some time, the students dispersed and began rioting in the areas between Adikmet and Manikeshwarnagar.
Students were seen pelting stones on this stretch in the afternoon as motorists faced tense moments. Immediately, police swung into action and lobbed tear gas shells at the rioters. It took more than an hour to control the situation. However, all through the day police appeared to maintain restraint as only a few tear gas shells were lobbed along with stun grenades, unlike yesterday when the frequency of their use was more.
On Saturday too, violence centred around the OU police station and B-hostel. Students continued to hurl stones and police fended them off, trying to disperse them by resorting to lathi-charges.
Meanwhile, a nine member enquiry team formed by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) went to Osmania University today. The team was led by SHRC secretary Appa Rao. They asked the students and other eyewitnesses about the police action on campus. Incidentally, even as the team was conducting its probe, tear gas shells were lobbed by the police.
Later they went to the OU police station and spoke to senior police officials and directed them to show restraint. The team also directed the OU administration to reopen the mess which they had closed from Saturday for Sankranti.
Around 5.30 p.m Medak MP Vijayashanti was denied entry by the police when she arrived at the campus to show solidarity with the agitators. Telangana Students Joint Action Committee spokespersons P Kailash said in a statement that from Sunday onwards, they would target Congress and TDP offices in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts, the security for which has already been beefed up.
–Agencies