Hyderabad, April 9 :The state bandh over the power issue, for which all the opposition parties cutting across party lines have united to force a shut down, is being enforced right from the wee hours of Tuesday.
The bandh was to express protest over the steep hike in power tariff and the immediate need for its roll back. While the villages and towns in the districts have fully responded to the bandh call, the citizens in the twin cities remained luke warm as there was no impact of the bandh with normal life not affected.
Leaders of the left parties blocked bus stations and prevented APSRTC buses from leaving, paralyzing the bus services. CPI state secretary Dr. K Narayana and CPI(M) state secretary B V Raghavulu were arrested at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station in the city when they tried to stop buses from leaving.
Bus services were totally paralyzed all over the state, except in the state capital, as leaders and cadres prevented buses from leaving. Of the 4,800 buses that ply, 2500 were stopped. APSRTC is expected to lose a great part of its daily revenue of Rs. 18 crore. In L B Nagar, agitators hurled stones and broke the glasses of several buses. They also deflated tyres of many buses.
In Warangal district, Left party leaders locked the gates of RTC depots at Janagaon, Mahabubabad and other places. 900 buses of 8 depots could not come out.
In Karimnagar district, left parties, TDP, BJP and TRS together prevented buses from moving out of depots at Karimnagar, Godavarikhani, others were taken into custody.
Agencies