Curfew in Andhra town continues

The situation remained tense in Vizianagaram town of north coastal Andhra as indefinite curfew continued for the third day Monday.

The curfew, which was imposed Saturday following violence during the anti-Telangana protests, will be relaxed for one hour Tuesday morning, officials said.

Defying curfew, people including women came on to the streets and had heated argument with police and paramilitary personnel. They complained of shortage of essential commodities and other hardships caused by the curfew.

The town, about 700 km from here, was rocked by violence Friday and Saturday during the protests against the central government's approval for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh by carving out separate Telangana state.

Protestors targeted the residences and other properties of state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana and his relatives. Police said anti-social elements indulged in arson and looting.

Meanwhile, protests continued in all 13 districts of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra). Protestors laid siege to the residences of central and state ministers, MPs and state legislators, blaming them for the failure to stall bifurcation.

Protestors including government employees and students took out rallies, formed human chains and undertook hunger strikes, demanding the central government to take back its decision.

Electricity employees continued their strike for second day, affecting electricity supply to eight districts. Railways cancelled several trains as electricity generation and supply at major power plants in the two regions came to a standstill.

Over six lakh government employees and teachers continued their indefinite strike. They along with employees of state-owned Road Transport Corporation are on strike since Aug 12. The government offices and schools remained closed while buses are off the roads.

The leaders of striking government employees refused to hold talks with cabinet sub-committee. Their leader P. Ashok Babau said they would only talk to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. The talks are likely on Wednesday.