Seemandhra shutdown continues for second day

Normal life in the Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh remained paralysed for the second consecutive day on Saturday, due to a shutdown call given by protesters who are in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh.

Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are agitating against a Central Government move to bifurcate the state, and create a separate state of Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh non-gazetted officers (APNGOs) and other united-AP supporters have given a 48-hour bandh call, while the Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress has called for a 72-hour shutdown in the non-Telangana regions.

Both protests began on Thursday morning.

Educational and commercial establishments also remained closed in Seemandhra.

Security has been beefed up in the region to prevent any untoward incidents, media quoted a senior police official, as saying.

Sporadic incidents of violence, including attacks on public and private property, were reported on Friday, the first day of the shutdown.

Congress Party offices were also attacked by the agitators, who squarely blame the former for the bifurcation move.

The Union Cabinet decided to go ahead with creation of Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh on October 3.