By: Katta Sekhar Reddy
On 14th June, our Editor Allam Narayana and News Editor D.Markandeya and I tried to reach Indira Park, where journalists gathered as part of duty and some others as protesters.
We started at Namasthe Telangana office. We have began our journey via City centre, Anandbagh reached Khairatabad junction. A policeman shouted at us “No way!go back!”. One of them identified our Editor and informed his senior officer about our identification. Then, we were allowed towards Lakdikaapool.
One ambulance was dashing in opposite direction. We gave way to it and crossed the second fence at Lakdikaapool. Both Secretariat road and Assembly roads were closed. We tried to impress upon Police that we were journalists. But no one heeded. They asked us to go through Masabtank and Nampally. We had no other option and so took that way. Every lane towards left side of Masabtank road was barricaded. Finally, we took Nampally road near Masabtank polytechnic. There was heavy traffic jam! It was a horrible journey. After a lot of agony we reached Gandhi Bhavan road. And the situation repeated again, more barricades, and more police.
Where are we? Is it our city? Are we the citizens of this city? I felt alienated
Our city didn’t feel like ours any more! It’s occupied by others.
We then Proceeded to Moazamjahi Market and took left towards GPO road and then right lane towards Bank Street. From there we entered the Gujarathi lane and took left towards Old Royal talkies road and then took right and drove to Narayanaguda. From there we took the Badichowdi road and entered Himayat Nagar.
Every turning which leads to Secretariat or Assembly was packed with police and barricaded. Finally we reached Ashok Nagar signals. after showing our identity cards we were allowed to enter Indira Park road. At last we joined our comrades who were waiting there.
One journalist who was there from morning told that TJAC Chairman Kodandaram was beaten like a commoner. He was kicked and crushed deliberately. Telangana Jagruthi President Kavitha was necked away by some police persons – he narrated with astonishment. I was shocked to hear that Senior BJP leader Indrasena Reddy was hospitalized due to police high handedness.
Another TV journalist told that police who were in bandobust were not from Telangana. They were from Seemandhra. That was the reason they behaved with such harshness. What I was thinking throughout the journey was proved correct.
We are treated like foreigners on our own land.
To control us they bring police from other side of state. What a tragedy?
In spite of all the pain we inflicted by Seemandhra government, Telangana activists observed utmost restraint and maturity and ensured that no untoward incident happened.