Telangana: Hyderabad police issue prohibitory orders in view of protests

With pro-statehood groups planning a series of agitations, including a bandh tomorrow in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh against conduct of Sub-Inspectors (SI) recruitment test, the Hyderabad Police today issued prohibitory orders in the city for a week.

Police Commissioner AK Khan, in a notification issued this evening, ordered imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc and provisions of Hyderabad City Police Act. The orders will be in force from 0600 hours tomorrow till 0600 hours on August 16.

The prohibitory orders ban every kind of assembly of public on public roads and also bans procession, dharna, rally or public meetings.

The step has been taken with a view to maintain public order, peace and tranquillity in Hyderabad considering the present law and order situation and security scenario, Khan said.

The August 10 bandh has been called against conduct of SIs written examination (on August 13 and 14) without the deletion of para 14 (f) of Presidential Order, which declared Hyderabad as a free zone for police recruitment.

Pro-Telangana groups have threatened to obstruct the exam to protest the Government's decision to go ahead with the test without deleting the controversial clause, whose repeal will ensure that residents of Telangana get preference in police employment.

They have warned of another 48-hour bandh in Telangana on August 13 and 14 if the clause was not deleted.