Date:31/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073150300100.htm

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TRS men try to gatecrash into studio

Special Correspondent

Demonstrators seek resumption of land allotted to Padmalaya studio

— Photo: Satish H.

Land row to the fore: Police preventing TRS activists from gatecrashing into Padmalaya studios in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Close on the heels of film actor Krishna calling on Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy amid speculation that the former might be roped into the Congress to counter the proposed entry by Chiranjeevi into politics, activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on Wednesday tried to gatecrash into Padmalaya studio owned by Krishna at Jubilee Hills here on Wednesday.

The demonstrators demanded the State Government to resume the land allotted to the studio and redistribute it to artistes from Telangana which was rich in cultural forms.

Mild tension

Though the police thwarted the bid by the crowd to storm the studio, some of them scaled the gate and entered inside. They were pushed out by the police. Mild tension prevailed at the entrance for sometime with the police resisting a spirited attempt to trespass into the premises. The police rounded up a few hundred demonstrators. Among those arrested were MLAs T. Harish Rao and S. Ramalinga Reddy and former MLA Nayani Narasimha Reddy.

Charge against Krishna

The TRS alleged that Krishna and his wife Vijayanirmala, who are the primary owners of the ten-acre land allotted to the studio, transferred half of the property to Zee Telefilms towards a financial settlement. The actor couple was also involved in real estate business in the remaining five acres.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Harish Rao and Mr. Ramalinga Reddy warned the Government that the TRS would take possession of lands allotted to the Telugu film industry in the city as it failed to provide employment to people of Telangana.