Hyderabad, Nov 11 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha's wife and other bird lovers were Sunday prevented from releasing birds at the KBR National Park here.

The forest department officials stopped Padmini and other activists from releasing the caged birds into the park.

They along with school students had gathered in the park for a walk to demand an end to cruelty towards birds. They also brought with them dozens of pigeons and other birds in cages to release them.

The forest department personnel argued that their action may harm the native birds in the park.

An official said as the birds released by the activists may be infected, they may spread the diseases to the birds already living in the park.

Earlier, holding placards, the activists demanded that all the birds in the confinement be released.

Padmini demanded action to end cruelty towards birds belonging to several species and caged at different places in the city, especially at Murgi Chowk in the old city.