Hyderabad, Oct 1 (PTI): Violent clashes broke out between pro-Telangana supporters and the police in several parts of the tension-ridden city today with the activists torching police vehicles, pelting stones and damaging rail and private property.

In a massive show of strength, thousands of protesters defied prohibitory orders and joined the 'Telangana march' to press their demand for a separate state.

A bandh has been called by a pro-Telangana student group. The Osmania university has postponed examinations scheduled for tomorrow.

At a late night press conference, Police Commissioner Auriga Sharma said certain Left wing extremist groups have infiltrated the movement and were suspected to be behind the violence.

He said SP (Intelligence) Rajashekhar was seriously injured in the clashes which also left an inspector and 17 constables with injuries. He said five protesters were injured.

He said 25 police vehicles were damaged of which three were torched.

He said several people including some TDP MLAs, who were staging a dharna outside the Secretariat have been taken into preventive custody.

Violating prohibitory orders, the Telangana supporters headed towards the Necklace Road at Hussain Sagar lake, the venue of the event, and clashed with security personnel on their way.

Incidents of violence were reported from the Osmania University campus, Khairatabad and the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat.

When they were stopped from passing by the Secretariat road and some other areas where prohibitory orders were in place, the protesters pelted stones and tried to remove the barricades which prompted the security personnel to lob tear gas shells after trying to chase them away.

The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), spearheading the agitation, which had asked its supporters to stay put at the venue of the 'Telangana march', ended the rally shortly before midnight due to inclement weather.

JAC Chairman M Kodandaram announced that the event has been ended as it was raining heavily.

"We are ending the rally as it is raining heavily. Our agitation for separate Telangana will continue," JAC chairman said.

He said the JAC would organise a fast on October 2 here and also launch a fast-unto-death soon in support of its demand for formation of separate Telangana state