HYDERABAD: The situation in Osmania University, witnessing violent protests for formation of Telangana state, is "very very volatile", a police official said Thursday.

"The situation in Osmania University is very very volatile. We don't know what turn it will take the next moment," said Inspector General of Police A.R. Anuradha. Police have appealed to parents of the students staying in university hostels to call them back home.

"The students are not understanding the seriousness of the situation. For them it is a game but this is not a game. The situation can take any turn," she told reporters as the tension continued on the campus. During the day, students clashed with the police and even roughed up Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators visiting the campus to meet them and damaged their vehicles.

Anuradha said police did not intervene as the situation could have taken a serious turn. The police also asked outsiders not to enter the campus. On the demands of the students that police should withdraw from the campus, she said police would withdraw the moment it has confidence that students will be peaceful.

The police officer assured the students that police would not intervene if students organise peaceful meetings within the campus. She also warned students that even if some of them indulge in violence, cases would be booked against all the members of the crowd.

The officer said several policemen were injured in the incidents at Osmania University and Nizam College in Hyderabad.
She said the disturbances were "very large" during the shutdown in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana region. The protesters damaged 42 public and 78 private properties.

Since Wednesday night, the protesters set afire 18 buses including 12 buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation. They also damaged 68 buses. The protesters staged agitations at 329 places, set up road blockades at 72 places and train blockade at 12 places. A total of 436 people were arrested in the region.

--IANS