CPI leader among 24 held for protesting students' deportation

CPI National Secretary K Narayana along with 23 party leaders and workers were today taken into preventive custody when they attempted to march towards US Consulate at Begumpet here to hold a dharna protesting deportation of students by US authorities. With several students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states facing deportation and returning to Hyderabad over the past fortnight, despite having valid visas issued by the US consulate, the Communist Party of India leaders, alleging anti-student policy of the US government, had planned to organise a dharna programme to register protest. "Twenty four protesters including Narayana were taken into preventive custody even before holding demonstration," Begumpet Police Station Inspector G Baswa Reddy said. The protesters were packed off in police vehicles and later let off.