NEW DELHI -- The Indian government Wednesday imposed an order prohibiting mass assembly in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in an effort to quell protests sparked by a separatist leader's hunger strike.
India Tries to Quell Hyderabad Protests
The state, home to Hyderabad, one of India's major high-technology cities, is facing turmoil from supporters of K Chandrashekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, a political party dedicated to establishing a separate state status for the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. His fast entered its 11th day Wednesday amid reports that doctors have warned his health is precariously weak.
His supporters have attacked government and private property. Students and teachers at the Osmania University in Hyderabad, the nerve centre of the movement for a separate state, called for protest marches and also clashed with the police.
Prohibitory orders were issued by the Indian government banning the assembly of five or more people in Hyderabad, the state capital, and nine other districts under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code. The government has deployed 12,000 security personnel in the region including the Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force and also set up check points to prevent protestors from entering the capital.
Meanwhile, the proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh state assembly were stalled for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as TRS members shouted slogans, demanding a resolution in favor of a separate Telangana state. Andhra Pradesh chief minister K. Rosaiah is scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi, leader of the ruling Congress party in New Delhi this week to discuss the issue. "This (Telangana) is a sensitive issue. We can't just table a resolution like that," Mr. Rosaiah appealed to the TRS members on Wednesday
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