Cop slaps student leader as police foil Chalo Secretariat protest

HYDERABAD: The Chalo Secretariat protest by members of the All India Students Federation (AISF) turned violent when police tried to stop the student leaders from rushing towards the State Secretariat in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The AISF was demanding payment of pending scholarships, provision of basic amenities in schools, and withdrawal of the government banning entry of media, political leaders and NGOs into welfare hostels.

Emotions ran high when Central Zone DCP Venkateswar Rao slapped one of the AISF leaders and dragged him away. Police took several AISF leaders into custody and shifted them to different police stations. Later, speaking to the media, the student leaders condemned the police's highhandedness.