The Andhra Pradesh capital was tense on Friday morning, with a 10,000 strong police force blocking off all entry points to the State Legislative Assembly and other sensitive places in the city to pre-empt the 'Chalo Assembly’ rally.
Pro-Telangana supporters were trying to organise this rally to protest against the delay in granting statehood to Telangana region.
There was high drama for an hour when two legislatures belonging to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi managed to climb atop the Assembly building to plant a black flag. Police forces, however, managed to bring them down, amid loud slogan-shouting.
Hundreds of pro-Telangana supporters were arrested by the police from different areas, as they sought to take out the rally. However, they shouted slogans, reiterating their commitment to complete the rally.
Assembly proceedings
Assembly proceedings were paralysed for the fourth day in the morning. Legislators belong to TRS and BJP stalled the proceedings, forcing Speaker N. Manohar to adjourn the House twice.
Tension also prevailed on the Osmania University campus where students attempted to breach the barricades and barbed wire to proceed with the rally. The police had to lob teargas shells to stop the mob.
Traffic was diverted at several areas, with police pickets placed at every entry point to the Assembly. Train and bus services were disrupted, while schools, colleges and commercial established remaining closed in some areas of the city.