Home Guard ends tower protest

HYDERABAD: After 36 hours of drama, a laid-off home guard who climbed atop a tower opposite Assembly and threatened to jump -- as a way of bringing attention to his demand for reinstatement -- climbed down Tuesday night, much to relief of police and family.Rambabu was removed from service after officials found irregularities in the appointment of home guards. Though a tight security cordon had been erected around the All India Radio building opposite the Assembly since the legislature is in session, Rambabu managed to sneak up the tower after jumping over the compound wall of the radio station.Police and Rambabu's family tried to persuade him to climb down but he demanded assurance from a officer that he and other laidoff guards would be reinstated.As he stood atop the tower in scorching heat, he was plied with food, water and glucose to ensure against dehydration. Police assured him that no case would be against him if he climbed down. After 8 pm Tuesday, Rambabu got down.