Bharat Bandh evokes partial response in Telangana

The 'Bharat Bandh' called by Congress and other opposition parties over rising fuel prices passed off peacefully in Telangana Monday with normal life remaining by and large unaffected.

Government offices, business establishments, public transport and educational institutions functioned normally across the state, information received here said.

Scores of leaders and workers of the Congress, Left and Telugu Desam Party were detained when they held protests near the State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) depots, preventing buses from being operated, police said.

Bus services were effected partially in the morning in the city, an RTC official said.

According to Additional Director General of Police Jitender, a total of 4,100 people were taken into preventive custody and let off in the evening.

Barring a few stray incidents, including a bus being torched in the city, the bandh passed off peacefully, he said.

A South Central Railway official said train services in the zone were unaffected by the bandh.

CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy and other Left leaders organised a protest in the city.

The shutdown in the state as part of the 'Bharat Bandh' was 'successful', Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed.

The tax imposed on petrol at 35.5 per cent and diesel at 27 per cent in Telangana was one of the 'highest' in the country, he said.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Working President M Bhatti Vikramarka, former MP Renuka Chowdary and party MLC P Sudhakar Reddy took part in the protests held at Khammam.

AICC secretary Srinivasan Krishnan and 40 others were taken into preventive custody when they staged a dharna in front of the RTC bus station in Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district, a police official said.

Osmania University postponed the pre-Phd examination scheduled for Monday to Tuesday, its Vice Chancellor S Ramachandram said.

According to him, all the educational institutions affiliated to the varsity functioned.

Petrol bunks remained open while some commercial establishments and educational institutions were closed in Karimnagar and Warangal.