Pro-Telangana students take out rally in Osmania University

Hundreds of slogan-shouting students held a rally in Osmania University (OU) campus in Hyderabad on Thursday and staged a demonstration in front of the nearby police station in support of statehood for Telangana.

Hundreds of slogan-shouting students held a rally in Osmania University (OU) campus in Hyderabad on Thursday and staged a demonstration in front of the nearby police station in support of statehood for Telangana.

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The heavy police force, consisting of anti-riot Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces - deployed in the campus - prevented the students from taking out a mock funeral procession of UPA leaders and stopped them in front of OU police station.

A tense situation prevailed in the campus, a hotbed of pro-Telangana agitations, after students refused to disperse despite repeated requests from senior police officials.

Angered over the Centre's latest statement calling for wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups on Telangana issue, some members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Osmania University Students Association began a hunger strike in front of the Arts College.

Security personnel surrounded the students even as pro-Telangana activists were chased away in Manikeswari Nagar adjoining the campus.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed banning rallies and processions in and around the university and in the city till January 1.