Two IPS officials sent to riot zone

Hyderabad, Dec. 21: The state government on Monday appointed two IPS officials as charges at Kadapa and Jammalamadugu to control the situation arising out of the agitations against the state bifurcation.

The Chief Minister Mr K. Rosaiah, reviewed the law and order situation on Monday night along with the home minister, Ms P. Sabita Indra Reddy, and said the health condition of Mr L. Rajagopal was normal.

Meanwhile agitators organised bandh in Kadapa, Anantapur, Nellore, Krishna, Prakasam and Chittoor districts. An estimated 62,586 activists and students participated in agitation programmes in 900 places.

At 63 places roads were blocked, 82 places trains were stopped in the state. Police said fast-unto-death protests were taking place at 49 places, and relay hunger strikes were being observed in 409 places. Police took 144 agitators into custody.

Agitators set fire to the the tahsildar office at Yerpedu, causing partial damage to records, damaged glass panes of some vehicles at Chittoor.

As part of the counter agitation, Telangana activists partially damaged the statue of Potti Sriramulu at Khammam, Unidentified persons set fire to four two-wheelers at Balanagar in city. A statue of the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, which was to be installed at Marriguda in Karimanagar district, was also damaged/

The Eluru range DIG, Mr Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagavath, was given additional charge as in-charge Vijayawada commissioner of police following the suspension of Mr K.V. Rajendranath Reddy.

Post-graduate students boycotted the first semester examinations and observed a dharna at the Telangana University at Dichpally.