Guntur: The bandh called by YSR Congress and supported by CPI, CPM and other organisations was total in Guntur district. The police arrested Mangalagiri MLA A. Ramakri-shna Reddy as a precautionary measure at Mangala-giri. Guntur East MLA Md. Mustafa staged a protest in front of NTR bus-station, legislator G. Srinivas Reddy at Narasaraopeta and others in various areas of the district. APSRTC buses did not ply and shops, hotels, cinema halls, schools, colleges, petrol bunks, government offices, banks and other establishments remained closed due to the bandh.
The leaders of YSRC, CPI, CPM and others including legislators came to APSRTC bus-stands in the early hours at 5 am in their respective areas and squatted in front of the gates stopping the bus services. The police rushed to the spots and arrested MLAs Ramakrishna Reddy at Mangalagiri, Mustafa at Guntur, P. Ramakrishna Reddy at Macharla and G. Srinivas Reddy at Narasara-opeta.
Heated arguments took place between police and CPI leaders during dharna at Sankar Vilas Centre at Guntur and police arrested 50 persons, including CPI state assistant secretary, M. Nageswara Rao, district secretary J. Ajaykumar and others and shifted them to Arundalpeta police station where leaders and activists further continued their protest seeking special status to AP.
APSRTC regional manager G. Srihari said that protesters did not allow buses to ply and a revenue loss of Rs 50 lakh was occurred to APSRTC Guntur region. He added that 50 per cent of the services were restored by midday and all services were restored by the evening.
All government offices, banks, petrol bunks, cinema halls, schools, colleges, shops and other establishment voluntarily observed bandh. AP Chamber of Trade and Commerce vice-president A. Anjaneyulu demanded that the Union government announce special tag honouring the wishes of the AP people. All markets remained close which wore a deserted look in Guntur, Tenali, Mangala-giri, Chilakaluripeta, Narasaraopeta, Macharla, Vinukonda and other areas of the district. The police arrested nearly 500 leaders and activists all over the district and later released them on bail.
As the bandh campaign was under progress for the past few days, the public remained indoors celebrating Rakhi festival.
