Telangana stir revival nears, more forces sought

HYDERABAD:� With Telangana parties and organisations planning to revive the statehood agitation next month, the state police have requisitioned additional Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF) as a precautionary measure. Already 17 companies of CPMF have been deployed in the state since the regional agitation began in 2009.

Though police termed the request for CPMF as a precautionary measure, sources said the deployment would be necessitated in view of the possibility of the situation turning volatile after June 10, the deadline set by Telanagna protogonists for the Centre to make an announcement on Telangana. Congress MPs from the region have been stating that they will join the movement directly if the Centre does not announce its decision by� then.

Director-general of police K Aravinda Rao told Express that a request for 20 more companies of CPMF was made to the Centre. “The request for more forces, however, is just a precautionary measure,'' he said. The additional forces from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are likely to reach the city at the earliest.� Aravinda Rao said the bulk of the forces would be deployed in the Telangana region. This time, however, the Border Security Force (BSF) will not be deployed. �

Sources said the forces would be deployed across the 10 districts of Telangana and particularly where large-scale violence and arson were witnessed in the past two years. Apart from the Osmania University in the city, incidents of violence rocked Warangal, Medak and Karimnagar districts. Police sources said Kakatiya University is another hot- bed of separatist movement and they apprehend trouble in Warangal district.

Apart from these districts in Telangana region, the police are anticipating trouble in the Seemandhra districts of Anantapur and Visakhapatnam where the student JACs are strong and spearheading the Samaikyandhra movement.

The incidents of violence in Karimnagar and Warangal during the TDP's Ranabheri are also giving the police a hint of the possible deterioration of law and order in the coming days. Intelligence agencies have warned the police of possible attacks on people's representatives from the region by Telangana protagonists demanding their resignations.