Against the backdrop of a boycott call given by the pro-Telangana organizations, the State police have beefed up security in the capital city of Hyderabad and other parts of the State as well for the smooth conduct of the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations tomorrow.

Several pro-Telangana bodies, including the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) gave a call to the people of the region to observe November 1 as the betrayal day and also wear black badges. Decrying the “inordinate delay’ in taking a decision on separate Telangana, these organizations have also asked the Ministers from the region not to take part in tomorrow’s function. The State Government has thus asked the collector of the district concerned to hoist the tricolour instead of the minister incharge of the district.

Sensing trouble, the State police have made elaborate security arrangements and additional forces have been deployed in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

In view of the call to the ministers not to participate in the celebrations, the administration has decided to hold the function at the Lal Bahadur Stadium (LB Stadium) in the heart of the city. Those attending the function, including the mediapersons, will be thoroughly scanned, official sources said.

Passes to the reporters covering the programme are subjected to police clearance while the Information and Public Relations (I and PR) Department has been dispensed with the power to issue such cards to mediamen.

Prasad@Sakshipost