Protester dies, others try suicide

Visakhapatnam/Bhimavaram/Hyderabad, Dec. 14: M. Madhava Sathya Venkata Narayana Rao, a 23-year-old MBA student from Gadilanka village in East Godavari, died on Monday while participating in an agitation against the bifurcation of the state.

Family members said the news of the state’s bifurcation had upset Narayana Rao. He was very depressed and was taken to a hospital when he got ill. He died while undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, three Andhra University students fell sick on the fourth day of their fast-unto-death protest against separate Telangana on Monday. In Hyderabad, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) directed the commissioner of police, the Visakhapatnam collector and the vice-chancellor of the AU to provide medical aid to the students.

In Bhimavaram, five students climbed up a tower supporting high-tension lines in Chinarangampalli and threatened to commit suicide. Two others from C.S.N Degree College too climbed up the college building and threatened to commit suicide. Another student, Mr Saraswathula Sairam, doused himself with kerosene and tried to immolate himself. All the students were rescued.

Orders have been issued to book trouble makers under stringent Sections, police said. The IGP, Ms A.R. Anuradha, said, “one person committed suicide by slitting his throat in Rayalaseema.”

Meanwhile, additional DG, Mr K. Durga Prasad, was posted to Coastal Andhra to oversee law and order. Around 30 DSPs and Additional SPs have been posted in different parts of Andhra and Rayalaseema.