Hyderabad, February 18: State government offices across the Telangana region wore a deserted look and the coal production in Singareni Collieries was hit to some extent on Thursday due to the non-cooperation agitation launched by Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC).
Functioning in offices of almost all departments, except the essential services like hospitals, came to a standstill as the employees attended the offices, but boycotted work after signing the attendance registers as part of the agitation launched with the demand for introduction of a Bill in Parliament for statehood to Telangana.
Work in several mines of Singareni Collieries was hit as some workers went on a tool down strike and others were on work-to-rule protest. Employees and workers attended the offices by wearing black badges and staged protests after boycotting work. Some employees who attempted to attend duties were obstructed by TJAC activists at some places, including at Nizamabad Collectorate.
Tool down strike
Singareni workers went on tool down strike in OC-2, OC-4 and PK-1 mines at Mauguru in Khammam district. Mining was also hit in Bhupalapalli mines and Srirampur RK-5 mine due to the agitation. The miners spent the day outside the mines singing songs and participating cultural activities including “Telangana dhoom dham”. Employees from Telangana region boycotted work in the Secretariat and staged a protest raising slogans in support of statehood for the region. Tension prevailed in GHMC headquarters as the police obstructed the entry of TRS legislators T. Harish Rao and E. Rajender into the office complex.
Telangana agitators travelled in RTC buses without purchasing tickets and they were arrested by police at some places. Some buses were run with the help of policemen. Executive Director of APSRTC S. Nagaraju told The Hindu that 431 bus services were affected either partly or fully due to the agitation and the corporation suffered a revenue loss of Rs. 2.5 crore due to it. An RTA stated no transaction had taken place across the region in their offices.
College students boycotted classes and traders stayed away from auctions in market yards as part of the agitation.
-Agencies