Pro-Telangana activists held demonstrations and resorted to road-blockades at several places in Warangal district.
Police Sunday took into custody Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) chairman M Kodandaram and five other pro-Telangana leaders when they were proceeding to Singareni mines in Andhra Pradesh's Khammam district to express solidarity with striking coal miners.
"Kodandaram and five others were taken into preventive custody at Pembarthi in Warangal district as they were taking a large crowd (of over 500 persons) towards Kothagudem that could have deteriorated law and order situation in the region," a senior police officer said.
They were released later, the officer added.
Expressing solidarity with the Singareni workers, who are striking as part of the general strike demanding separate statehood, the JAC leaders had this afternoon left from Hyderabad to Godavarikhani and Kothagudem in 'Bus Yatra' (in two separate batches) to organise rallies in those places tomorrow.
Pro-Telangana activists held demonstrations and resorted to road-blockades at several places in Warangal district condemning the police action and demanded Kodandaram and other leaders be immediately released.
Employees of Singareni Collieries (spread over Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam district) are on a strike as part of the 'Sakal Janula Samme' (strike by all sections) call given by T-JAC in support of statehood demand.
Due to the coal miners strike, coal production has fallen sharply and Andhra Pradesh is facing a severe power crisis as thermal generation has fallen steeply.
Asserting that the separate Telangana agitation would not relent until it achieved its goal, Kodandaram said the protests would remain peaceful.
TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, former state minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, a Congress MLA from Telangana, and others condemned the detaining of the JAC convener.
Meanwhile, the Telangana supporters continued the general strike, which began on September 13, by holding rallies, sit-ins and other forms of protests.
Criticising the ruling Congress for allegedly dilly-dallying on the Telangana issue, state BJP president G Kishan Reddy said it has made life difficult for the common people.
The prolonged power cuts in rural areas have resulted in standing crops going without water as the pumpsets don't work, he said.
He further said that many areas faced drought-like conditions and demanded that the state government declare the drought-hit mandals and provide adequate relief to the farmers.
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