'Beef festival' row: 8 organisers detained, BJP MLA arrested

Eight organisers of the controversial 'beef festival' on Osmania University campus were detained while BJP MLA T Raja Singh, who was opposing the the event, was arrested here this morning, police said. A 'curfew-like' situation prevailed on the campus with heavy police security being deployed to prevent any untoward incident. A students' group had earlier declared that it would hold a 'beef festival' on the campus today, coinciding with the World Human Rights Day, while another group also announced its plan to organise a 'pork festival' the same day, which raised the possibility of confrontation. "We detained last night eight key members of the group which announced the beef festival today. As per court order, we will not allow any festivals on the Osmania University campus," a police official told PTI. Assistant Commissioner of Police K Ram Bhupal Rao told PTI that they arrested BJP MLA from Goshamahal, T Raja Singh, as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.   PTI