Tension at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad, two injured

Opposition parties along with activists of the Jana Sena and Telangana Joint Action Council on Monday clashed with the police and members of the public over the government decision to ban agitations at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park.

The situation in the area had become tense by 11:30 am, with a huge posse of police trying to bring matters under control after a round of lathi charge and stone pelting left two people injured and dozens of chairs broken.

The issue began when Left parties reached the spot around 9 am to hold an all-party meeting to protest the government’s decision to ban agitations at Dharna Chowk. Local residents and morning walkers objected to the protest, saying that the protests at Dharna Chowk had made life miserable for them, apart from blocking the



traffic for hours. 

The argument snowballed into jostling and throwing of chairs at each other and the police stepped in and pacified both sides.The situation turned violent again around 11 am when activists of Jana Sena and TJAC along with Congress workers led by senior leader V Hanumantha Rao reached the spot. A clash between residents of surrounding areas, including Domalguda and Kawadiguda, and the political parties in protest ensued, and chairs at the Chowk were damaged. Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd, while a few miscreants began pelting stones as well. Two persons were injured.

The atmosphere remained tense by afternoon on Monday, with a huge contingent of police trying to bring the situation under control.