FACED with growing resentment of people, the TRS government of Telangana is resorting to severe repression against people’s movements and opponents. Two Maoist leaders were killed by police in Warangal district making it the first encounter killings in the new state of Telangana. What shocked the people of the state was the police brutality against a woman Maoist cadre Shruti. Her body showed signs of gang-rape and torture. In a bid to eradicate evidence, acid was poured on the her stomach and near private parts. Shruti’s mother broke down after seeing the body and there was condemnation all around against the police brutality. Chief minister KCR who had before elections announced that Maoist agenda was his agenda kept mum on the first encounter in his regime, It is common knowledge that without political clearance from highest level such a major encounter killing by police was not possible. CPI(M) and nine other Left parties strongly condemned the brutal encounter killing. Many mass organisations, human rights bodies and intellectuals came out against the killing. Revolutionary poets organisation, Virasam, leader Varavara Rao vehemently attacked KCR for these killings. In a major development, 371 organisations, including those associated with Maoists and those which actively fought for the formation of Telangana state, came together to form Telangana Democratic Front (TDF). It included the ten Left parties also. The TDF called for a ‘Chalo Assembly’ on September 30 to protest the encounter killings. It released posters and pamphlets detailing the undemocratic nature of TRS government and its brutal encounter killing. It got encouraging response from the people especially students in Osmania and Kakatiya universities. Sensing this support, the TRS government decided to unleash repression against the TDF programme. The police denied permission to the rally from Sundarayya Vignana Kendram to Assembly citing that the assembly is in session and Section 144 is in place. On September 29 itself it resorted to largescale arrests of Left parties cadre in all districts. Student activists distributing pamphlets for the rally were arrested in many districts. State secretaries of CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) and other parties went underground even as police visited the offices to take them into custody. Varavara Rao also evaded arrest. People travelling from districts to take part in the rally were prevented on the outskirts and taken into custody. Sundarayya Vignana Kendram was cordoned off with heavy police presence. Renowned educationist and former MLC Chukka Ramayya was placed under house arrest on the morning of September 30. Despite this repression, hundreds of people turned up for the Chalo Assembly at SVK and sought to break the barricades. CPI(M) state secretary Thammineni Veerabhadram, CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, CPI(ML) secretary Venkatramaiah and others were arrested by the police as they tried to march towards the assembly. Varavara Rao was arrested elsewhere. Women activists were also brusquely thrown into vans and arrested. The Left parties strongly condemned the high handed behaviour of police and questioned the silence of the chief minister on the encounter killing. They warned that the TRS would have to pay a heavy price if its government continues on the path of repression. (INN)