Shut down in Andhra, Rayalaseema

State-run road transport corporation suspended its services in Visakhapatnam, Kadapa, Chittoor and Anantapur

A bandh was observed on Wednesday across Andhra and Rayalaseema (Seemandhra) regions against the decision of the ruling Congress party at the Centre to carve out Telangana state.

Shops and establishments and educational institutions remained closed while the services of state-run road transport corporation were suspended in Visakhapatnam, Kadapa, Chittoor and Anantapur.

In response to a call given by Samaikyandhra (united Andhra)  joint action committee, various sections of the people, including students, teachers, lawyers and government employees, held rallies and blocked roads in Viskhapatnam. The agitators also burnt the effigies of Sonia Gandhi at several places in the city. Police took into custody 20 agitators and released them later.

 

Depressed over the move to bifurcate the state, a 35-year-old home guard, P Srinivas, committed suicide by consuming pesticide in Vizianagaram.

Over 15 Andhra University students started an indefinite hunger strike at the university premises demanding that the state should not be divided.

 

Police resorted to cane charge to disburse the stone-pelting agitators in Anantapur. By and large the bandh was peaceful.