“Pura rasta bandh hai. Jana kaise?” (All roads are closed. How can we go?) – questioned 35 year-old private sector employee Syed Ahmed to the police personnel. Like other motorists in the city, he had a tough time manoeuvring the barricades as he was intercepted at the Saifabad junction. Ahmed had a heated argument with the police after the latter stopped his bike and did not allow him go towards Global hospital where his cousin is undergoing treatment.
“A few days ago, my cousin was admitted to the private hospital in Lakdikapul and I have come with his lunch packed from home. Initially I took the route from Masab Tank to Lakdikapul where the hospital is located but couldn’t get through the barricades. As I reached the Saifabad junction, police again stopped me stating that no one is allowed towards the Assembly,’’ said Ahmed. An irate Ahmed also found fault with the police who denied the passers-by access to their areas of work and homes well. Only when he produced the attendant pass issued by the hospital management, did police allow him.
Meanwhile, all roads leading to Legislative Assembly were closed and the police set up iron barricades and fences along all major stretches to keep trouble away on ‘Chalo Assembly’ day by the Telangana Joint Action Committee.
All business establishments, hotels, shops including ATMs were remained closed at areas in and around Khairatabad, Saifabad, Lakdikapul, Basheerbagh, Nampally, Narayanaguda and Himayatnagar. In view of the repeat of incidents of violence which marked Sagara Haram and Million March, police have tightened the security and sealed Tank Bund, NTR Marg, Necklace Road, Imax road including five fly-overs on Friday.
Motorists had a tough time reaching their destinations as traffic came to a standstill at Punjagutta, Nagarjuna circle, Somajiguda circle, Road No 1 Banjara Hills, Masab Tank and other places. Police started closing all roads from 7 am and allowed traffic to pass via the blocked routes in the evening around 5:30 pm.
Government employees of various departments located at Lakdikapul and Saifabad parked their vehicles at Khairatabad and walked to their offices as all roads leading to Assembly were closed. “Even though I showed my identity card to police, they did not allow me. Police advised me to take diversions to reach my office. I started at my home located at Addagutta around 9:30 am and reached Khairatabad at 12:30 pm via Secunderabad. I parked my bike at a private function hall in Khairatabad and walked towards HACA Bhavan,” said A Ramakrishna, an employee of Hyderabad Agriculture Co-operative Association (HACA).
The end of the day saw many a disgruntled denizens make their way back, once again skirting sections in the city which were closed off or bottle-necked by barricades and police personnel. Considering that a light drizzle accompanied the day’s proceedings, the silver lining was perhaps that it hadn’t rained heavily.
