Hyderabad, Dec 28 : Tension prevailed at Osmania University here as a group of students Monday launched a fast unto death, hours after some of their colleagues on hunger strike were shifted to a hospital by the police. A large number of policemen in riot gear surrounded the Arts College building on the campus to arrest the students on hunger strike. Raising slogans of "police go back", the students squatted on the ground and refused to leave the campus despite the university authorities closing down all hostels and messes.

Leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of students had a heated argument with the police officials and alleged that their peaceful agitation was being suppressed. The arrest of students in a late night operation by the police came hours after students announced their plans to hold a meeting and gave a call for a 'Chalo Hyderabad' march Jan 3.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao, in a statement Sunday night, said no permission would be given for 'vidyarthi garjna' or the intensified agitation planned by the students JAC Jan 3 at the Osmania University. The JAC has threatened to lay siege to the city with students from across the region joining the march if the central government failed to make an announcement for initiating the process for the formation of Telangana state by Jan 2.