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Partial response to bandh in Seemandhra

Rallies, demonstrations against division of AP mark the second day of bandh.

Hyderabad: Rallies and demonstrations against division of Andhra Pradesh marked the second day of bandh in Seemandhra, where normal life was on Friday partially affected but the situation remained largely violence-free.

The bandh was observed in 13 districts of the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema (together called Seemandhra) and it evoked a partial response, affecting normal life in some parts of the region for the second consecutive day, police said.

The shutdown call was given by YSR Congress, APNGOs (a body of Government employees) and pro-united AP outfit Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika against the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill (Telangana Bill) in the Lok Sabha Tuesday.

Protest rallies and demonstrations against bifurcation of the state were held across the region. Business premises and educational institutions remained shut, while services of APSRTC buses were affected in parts of Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, East and West Godavari, Guntur and Krishna districts.

"There were no untoward incidents. The bandh had partial impact in Anantapur while it evoked poor response in Chittoor and Tirupati," DIG (Anantapur Range) B Balakrishna told PTI over phone. "Compared to Tuesday (when the bandh was near total), it evoked partial response Friday," he said.

In the morning hours, protesters took out rallies and held demonstrations. However, normalcy was restored by afternoon, DIG (Visakhapatnam Range) P Umapathi said. Bus services were disrupted in the morning but normal operations resumed by afternoon, he said, adding "some private educational institutions remained closed". At many places, protesters held dharnas outside bus depots, forcing vehicles to remain indoors.

The demonstrations were marked by slogans against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and burning of tyres. YSR Congress workers, meanwhile, took out bike rallies in Anantapur and raised slogans in support of a united Andhra Pradesh.

A report from Vijayawada said some protesters threw brooms at the convoy of Union Minister of State for Finance, J D Seelam while he was on his way to Eluru town from Gannavaram airport.

According to the report, protesters, who had gathered on the national highway to block traffic, saw Seelam passing through and they asked him to alight from his vehicle and participate in their stir. But when the Minister declined to yield to the demand, the agitators tried to obstruct his way while some of them hurled brooms at his car.

Seelam's convoy could move only after police arrived on the scene and dispersed the agitators, who were led by TDP Farmers' Association district chief Anjaneyulu. In Vijayawada city, shops and other establishments remained closed, while public transport services were largely off the roads.

Andhra Pradesh Ministers K Pardhasaradhi and T Narasimham cancelled all official programmes in the city apparently to avoid the ire of united Andhra agitators. A report from Rajahmundry said all educational institutions, shops, commercial and financial establishments remained closed for the second day today in East Godavari district in view of the bandh.

( Source : PTI )
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