Telangana supporter commits suicide in Osmania

Frustrated over the delay in formation of a separate Telangana state, an Osmania University student committed suicide, leading to tension in the campus today.

Frustrated over the delay in formation of a separate Telangana state, an Osmania University student committed suicide, leading to tension in the campus on Wednesday.

V Santosh, a degree student of a college in the city, hung himself from a tree in front of Arts College in Osmania University, which has been witnessing violent protests by students for last three years demanding separate statehood to Telangana.

The student, hailing from Adilabad district, resorted to the extreme step Tuesday night. He left behind a suicide note, blaming 'ruling classes' for creating hurdles in the formation of a Telangana state.

As the word spread, a large number of students gathered on the campus early Wednesday, raising slogans against the government.

Tension prevailed on the campus as students resisted police attempts to shift the body for autopsy. They even thrashed a policeman in plainclothes.

The protestors were demanding that the body not be shifted till all ministers and MPs of Congress party from Telangana submit their resignations. They also want to take out funeral procession from the university to Gun Park near the state assembly. Police, however, refused them permission.

Osmania University students' Joint Action committee has called for a shutdown of all educational institutions in Telangana.

The university postponed all examinations scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Pro-Telangana groups of over 600 people, mostly youth, have committed suicide towards their demand for a separate state during the last three years.