Hyderabad, Sep 16 (IANS) The indefinite general strike in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh to demand a separate state intensified on its fourth day Friday with teachers also joining the government employees in the protest.


All government-run schools and colleges across the region were shut down as over 170,000 employees joined the indefinite strike. Private educational institutions also began a two-day shutdown Friday to show solidarity with the movement.

A few schools and colleges in Hyderabad were open but the shutdown was total in the remaining nine districts, where the striking employees, teachers, students, lawyers and people from other sections participated in the mass protests.

Administration remained crippled in the region for the fourth day as over 400,000 government employees stayed away from duties. The coal production at the state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) also remained paralysed, badly affecting thermal power stations.

The company, which daily produces 120,000 tonnes of coal from the mines spread over four districts, is suffering a daily loss of Rs.25 crore due to the strike.

Tension prevailed in Hyderabad when police arrested Telangana employees' leader Swami Goud when he visited the government-run Gandhi Hospital to express solidarity with striking employees.

Protesting his arrest, a large number of Telangana leaders and activists reached Chilkalguda police station. Police later released him on bail.

Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) chairman M. Kodandaram, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and other leaders also visited the police station and condemned the arrest.

They later decided to lodge a complaint with national human rights commission. The leaders said they would also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek immediate steps for formation of separate Telangana state.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan imposed prohibitory orders, banning meetings and rallies in the city till Sep 22.

Meanwhile, tension also prevailed in the old city of Hyderabad when pro-Telangana lawyers of the high court tried to take out a huge rally from the high court to the Charminar.

Rejecting the government's appeal to call off the strike, the employees of the electricity department and state-owned Road Transport Corporation have decided to join the strike from Sep 19.