Anticipating this, the Gajwel and Hyderabad traffic police made elaborate arrangements at key locations, including the Erravalli farmhouse, Telangana Bhavan and the former CM’s residence at Nandinagar to ensure traffic was not disrupted and to maintain security: Reports
HYDERABAD: Large crowds of BRS supporters followed former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s convoy from his Erravalli farmhouse as he travelled to his Nandinagar residents to attend his questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the phone-tapping case.
Anticipating this, the Gajwel and Hyderabad traffic police made elaborate arrangements at key locations, including the Erravalli farmhouse, Telangana Bhavan and the former CM’s residence at Nandinagar to ensure traffic was not disrupted and to maintain security.
Ssaid around 500 vehicles initially formed the convoy from Erravalli. Protests and effigy burning were reported at Siddipet, Gajwel and other locations along the route, where party cadres wore black ribbons but maintained peace. Gajwel traffic police noted that although the convoy began with nearly 500 vehicles, only 20 eventually entered Hyderabad.
Of these, two vehicles proceeded towards the former CM’s residence, while the rest headed to Telangana Bhavan. Police confirmed that the movement remained peaceful throughout the Gajwel limits under the Siddipet commissionerate.
Within the city, slow vehicular movement was observed in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills in the afternoon due to increased political traffic. Traffic at the Panjagutta circle remained busy but manageable, aided by reduced bus movement.
From Rao’s residence at Nandinagar to Telangana Bhavan, vehicles parked along the roadside. The stretch also witnessed heavy traffic due to its proximity to Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital, with party supporters on one side and hospital visitors on the other. Police repeatedly instructed drivers to move vehicles to the designated parking area at Telangana Bhavan to ease congestion.
Large hoardings bearing images of Rao and senior party leaders were erected near Telangana Bhavan, KBR Park and the Nandinagar stretch. Party workers remained active at Telangana Bhavan since morning, though crowds thinned by 5 pm. Attempts by workers to move towards Nandinagar in the morning were restricted, leading to a protest at the Bhavan gate.
Joint commissioner of police (Traffic), Hyderabad, Joel Davis said traffic movement fluctuated from heavy to light until the former CM reached his residence, and the situation was handled smoothly. Banjara Hills inspector S. Suhasan said 18 persons, including BRSV state president Gellu Srinivas Kumar, were taken into preventive custody and later released in the evening. He added that law and order police, traffic police, AR force, Task Force, Special Branch, women’s squad and commando teams were deployed to ensure peaceful conduct.
