Police free Kodandaram amid mob protest

NALGONDA/KARIMNAGAR: The Singareni Bus Yatra sponsored by TJAC to intensify the strike in Singareni coal mines turned tense on Sunday with the police obstructing two buses and arresting TJAC leaders at Pembarthy in Warangal and Jillella in Karimnagar district. The police were forced to release the TJAC leaders including its chairman M Kodandaram after local people obstructed Hyderabad-bound police convoy.Two teams of TJAC leaders left on Sunday for Godavarikhani in Karimnagar and Kothagudem in Khammam from Hyderabad for intensifying the stir of coal miners and give them moral support.The bus in which Kodandaram was travelling was intercepted at Pembarthy in Warangal and the police arrested him and 12 others.They tried to take the arrested leaders to Hyderabad by road.On learning of the arrests, a mob of people blocked the roads at Alair railway level-crossing demanding their release.Traffic came to a halt for more than two hours on Hyd-Warangal highway.Later, Kodandaram came out of the police van and squatted on the road.Sensing trouble, police whisked the leaders to the Alair police station but the unrelenting protesters stormed the police station urging his release.With reports of road blockade at Bhongiri, Rajgiri, Vangapally and Pedda Kandukuru villages on the highway bringing vehicles to a halt for a length of about 15 km, the police released Kodandaram and others.In Karimnagar, another TJAC leaders’ team led by Mallepalli Laxmaiah were arrested at Jillella crossroad while they were proceeding to Godavarikhani.As per TJAC schedule, they were to visit Singareni mines to support agitating miners. Learning about their arrival, the police prevent the bus from moving further and arrested Laxmaiah, TRS leader N Narsimha Reddy and CPI-ML (ND) leader Govardhan