Tension prevailed in Andhra Pradesh's Khammam town Tuesday as key Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders were arrested when they tried to meet party chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who is on a 'fast unto death' in a hospital to press for a separate state of Telangana.

Police arrested TRS chief's son K. Tarakarama Rao and nephew Harish Rao, both legislators, and other TRS leaders as they tried to meet him at a government-run hospital in Khammam.

Police also removed three other TRS leaders, who along with Chandrasekhara Rao are in judicial custody, from the hospital and sent them back to Khammam sub-jail.

TRS supporters reacted angrily and tried to stop police vehicles carrying TRS leaders to police stations. Harish Rao also launched a hunger strike in police custody.

KCR, as Chandrasekhara Rao is popularly known, spoke to state human rights commission chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy over phone and complained about the high-handedness of the police.

KCR told a TV news channel over phone that doctors were trying to forcibly administer him saline drips. He said he had even locked his hospital room from inside but the police broke open the door.

Police sources said the Mahbubnagar MP may soon be shifted to jail.