In a sensational move, the government has withdrawn the cases it slapped against 984 students of Osmania University for taking part in Telangana movement. The government has passed an order withdrawing 15 cases against the students. It may be recalled that government filed cases against these students when they staged protests in support of a separate state when TRS chief KCR was at a hospital.

The agitation has even hit the headlines of the international media. The union home minister Chidambaram, when he gave a formal statement on the initiation of process of Telangana state, said the cases would be withdrawn against the students. However, government didn't lift the cases stating that it hasn't received any official order from the Centre. Although the sympathizers cited the statement of Chidambaram and demanded the withdrawal of cases, they slowly seized their demand as Chidambaram withdrew the statement on formation of Telangana state in the last week of December 2009.

AW Phani