Hyderabad: The Telangana Reddy Aikya Vedika (TRAV) march to lay siege the Pragati Bhavan, the office-cum-residence of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao turned violent at Medchal, when they were prevented by the police from entering the city.
The protesters said the police caned them, leaving a few injured. Police denied the use of force. Police said traffic had been regulated on the highway, but vehicles were stranded for over three hours on the highway.
Police took 142 protesters into preventive custody and a case for unlawful assembly and for causing hurt to a protester was registered.
Police detained TRAV state president Anugu Santosh Reddy, working president A. Ram Reddy and several other leaders and shifted them to Medchal police station.
Demanding their release, other members staged a protest in front of the police station. When there was no response from the cops, the protest intensified.
“Cops behaved cruelly and beat up even women leaders,” said Mr Santosh Reddy, and demanded action on the police personnel involved.
Police said they had waited for an hour for the protesters to disperse, before taking action to clear the road.
Medchal inspector Venkat Reddy said one person was injured by a bottle thrown by one of the protesters.
