Show proof of Maoist link to Telangana stir, says apex court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Andhra Pradesh government to substantiate its claim that Maoists have infiltrated the student ranks of Osmania University, which is spearheading the movement for a new Telangana state.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Andhra Pradesh government to substantiate its claim that Maoists have infiltrated the student ranks of Osmania University, which is spearheading the movement for a new Telangana state.

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"Where is the input of the infiltration inside the campus? What is the proof available? We would like to have it," a bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly said as senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, made the claim.

As the state government's lawsuit challenging an Andhra Pradesh High court ruling for removal of paramilitary forces from the Osmania University campus came up, Salve said the troopers are indispensable and could not be shifted.

He said the state has intelligence inputs suggesting that the university has been infiltrated by Maoists who are trying to take control of the movement for a new state.

The bench then sought intelligence inputs to back the claim and adjourned the matter for further hearing Feb 25, as Salve agreed to furnish the intelligence to the court by Wednesday.

The bench also extended till Thursday its earlier order suspending the state high court's Feb 16 order to the Andhra government to pull out the paramilitary forces from the Osmania campus.

The state government challenged the high court order, saying the court cannot order the removal of paramilitary forces from the campus which is a hotbed of the Telangana agitation.