Hyderabad: The suicide of a student seeking a separate Telangana state has brought the issue back into focus with a shutdown being observed yesterday in Warangal district and groups calling for a two-day protest.

Tension prevailed in Warangal town yesterday during the funeral procession of MBA student Bhojya Naik, who set himself ablaze on Saturday to protest against the delay in carving out a Telangana state.

Hundreds attended the funeral procession during which the protesters attacked the houses of Congress leaders and an office of the party. They also stoned the statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Students attacked the houses of Information Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader E. Dayakar Rao and government chief whip G. Venkatramana Reddy. Three people were injured in the stone pelting. Police baton charged the protesters.

Earlier, protesters also attacked Dayakar Rao's brother Pradeep Rao when he visited the home of Bhojya Naik to console his parents.

‘Burn effigies'

Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) chairman M. Kodandaram, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators and others participated in the funeral procession. A shutdown was observed in Warangal district on a call given by pro-Telangana groups.

The JAC, comprising TRS and other groups, has called for the burning of effigies of Congress party and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in all 10 districts of the region today. It also urged people to hold rallies tomorrow.

JAC leaders said the suicide should be an eye-opener to all MPs from the region and they should pressurise the central government to table a bill during the current session of parliament for the formation of a Telangana state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has conveyed his sympathies to family members over the death of Bhojya Naik. He said suicide was not a solution to the problems and that he hoped the central government would take an appropriate decision on the issue. He advised students not to become emotional and take their lives.

Congress MPs from Telangana, Rajaiah and Balram Naik, alleged that leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema were responsible for suicides.