Pro-Telangana student dies after self-immolation attempt -

Hyderabad:A 19-year-old pro-Telangana activist, who attempted self-immolation at the Osmania University campus on Saturday, died of burns early on Sunday. Siripur Yadaiaiah, who suffered nearly 80 percent burns, died at the Apollo Hospital, police said. Protests continued at the Osmania University campus despite heavy police presence. Earlier, Yadaiah, a resident of neighbouring Ranga Reddy district, set himself ablaze near Café Coffee Day near the NCC gate on the Western side of the Osmania University . Then he rushed towards the policemen present at the gate. Alarmed policemen doused the fire and shifted him to the hospital in an ambulance. Later, at the Apollo Hospital , he succumbed to the burns. Fearing a backlash from the student community, the Andhra Pradesh police got the body shifted to his native place early this morning. City police commissioner A K Khan said Yadaiah's post mortem was conducted and the body taken to his village. Yadaiah, a class 12th student, was identified with help of some certificates found in his bag along with a suicide note. "People like me will get jobs if Telangana state is formed. I am giving life for Telangana and please don't stop this movement till Telangana is achieved," the note said. Meanwhile, protests have been continuing in the city. At least 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city to keep the situation under check. Security has specifically been tightened at Osmania University. A Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader was faced with a difficult situation here when some pro-Telangana activists pelted stones at the vehicle he was travelling in on Sunday afternoon. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA J Ranga Reddy was travelling here this after noon when he came under attack. Fortunately, Reddy escaped unhurt in the attack. Students were demanding the resignation of Reddy in support of their pending demand of creation of separate state out of Andhra Pradesh. The CPM opposed the creation of separate state. Situation was tense in the city after the incident. Police resorted to cane charging to disperser violent protestors in which a protestor was also injured. According to police, six pro-Telangana protesters have also taken into preventive custody. Stone pelting on MLAs belonging to Telangana region, who did not submit their resignation, were also reported from various parts of the state. The Hyderabad police on Sunday appealed to student activists of Osmania University and other educational institutions, demanding the creation of a separate Telangana state, to observe restrain and protest peacefully. The students had resorted to stone pelting on police personnel when the latter tried to quell the rally and protest by students following authorities’ prohibitory orders in the state capital of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday (February 20). "We are appealing to student leaders to express their democratic protest in a democratic and peaceful form and not to indulge in collateral damages. A lot of policemen are getting injured, officers of senior ranks are also getting injured in the stone pelting, and lots of civilians are also getting injured. Then buses are being burnt. This is not a right way to protest in any democracy," said Praveen Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police of Hyderabad. Kumar, however, refused to comment on the possibility of the presence of Maoists cadres in the student ranks. "It is not a question of Maoists and something else. But basically, we are dealing with a situation on a day-to-day basis. Our basic interest is to protect the career of students and support the university administration," added Kumar. Pro-Telangana activists have been agitating since December 23, after the Central government deferred its promise to initiate the process for bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. The agitations have resulted in a series of violent incidents in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, as well as some other parts of the state. Telangana region is spread over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh. The pro-Telangana students had started protest rallies outside the Osmania University campus on Saturday, even as heavy security measures have been imposed across Andhra Pradesh to prevent any disruption. Road and rail traffic has been badly affected. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan has apologized to people for the security restrictions. Following a bomb scare, at least nine trains were stopped near Vikrabad and Warangal , and the railway protection force is checking the tracks. According to reports, pro-Telangana activists broke barricades outside the state Assembly and tried to enter the House and disrupt the ongoing budget session. The students are demanding resignation of MLAs from Telangana region, and they hope the resignations will pressure the Central government into initiating process for formation of a separate state. "Please try to understand why we are participating in such a struggle. We have no jobs. Our parents are in debt. There is no money at home. It is a matter of life and death for us," says Satish, one of the students. Over 15000 policemen and paramilitary personnel are on duty in Hyderabad alone as in a pre-cautionary measure to hold up protests. Commissioner A K Khan said: "It is a surcharged atmosphere and if they do anything illegal, we will have to take action and book cases. That could spoil their future as well." Ten TRS MLAs have resigned, the Congress MLAs have been reined in and the TDP is sitting on the fence.