Video: TJAC chief Kodandaram detained by Hyderabad cops in late night swoop

Hours after the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) decided to go ahead with its rally of the unemployed youth in Hyderabad, the police took its chairman M Kodandaram into preventive custody in the early hours of Wednesday.

This came after the TJAC said that it had decided to defy prohibitory orders imposed by the police.

The TJAC went live on Facebook at 3.30am on Wednesday to show visuals of a large number of policemen standing outside Kodandaram's door, asking that he cooperate with them and step our peacefully.

The TJAC also alleged that the police broke the door of Kodandaram's house, after a scuffle when the latter's supporters refused to open the door.

On Tuesday, Kodandaram said that the rally to demand the state government to fulfil its promise of one lakh jobs would be held as planned in the heart of the city even as the police made it clear that there was no permission for the rally.

He appealed to youth and students to stage a silent protest wherever they were stopped by the police.

Kodandaram alleged that police started arrests in various parts of the state from Monday and over 600 people had been taken into custody.

Police have warned the youth that if they violate the prohibitory orders, criminal cases will be booked against them.

TJAC plans to conduct the rally from Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram to Indra Park. He recalled that the permission for the rally was sought on February 1.

Earlier on Tuesday, the matter came for hearing in Hyderabad High Court, which suggested to the TJAC to postpone the rally to Sunday or hold it at Nagole on the outskirts. 

It, however, did not agree to the same on the grounds that preparations had already been made and the event can't be postponed in view of competitive exams and Mahashivratri.

TJAC informed the court that it is ready to change the venue to Osmania University. However, the police refused to give the permission in view of the disturbances witnessed on the campus in the past.

Stating that protest is their democratic right, Kodandaram said they would go ahead with their plans. 

He alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government was trying to suppress a democratic and peaceful protest in the same manner in which the rulers of united Andhra Pradesh suppressed the movement for separate Telangana state.

"If this is a crime, the present Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao figured in all the cases booked during Telangana movement," said Kodandaram, who had actively participated in the movement for separate state.

TJAC is demanding that the Chief Minister should fulfil his election promise to provide jobs to one lakh unemployed. It is seeking immediate steps for filling all vacancies in government departments and public sector undertakings.

The ruling party, however, has accused Kodandaram of provoking unemployed youth and students. 

It denied permission for the rally because it suspects that extremist elements have infiltrated into the group and might resort to violence.

The TJAC also shot a video of the police at Kodandaram's house, which also shows the leader being taken in a police car afterwards. Watch it here. 

IANS inputs