Hyderabad, December 07: Sporadic violence hit Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana region on the first day of the 48-hour bandh called by TRS, with protestors damaging bank ATMs, torching a hotel and indulging in vandalism to press for their demand for a separate state.
Life came to a grinding halt as the day coincided with the anniversary of Babri mosque demolition, which is observed as ‘black day’ by various groups.
A youth jumped to death from atop a water reservoir in Warangal demanding formation of Telangana state, officials said. In Karimnagar district, Telangana supporters detained Hyderabad-bound Bhagyanagar express while road blockades were also reported from other parts of the region.
In Hyderabad, the protestors damaged two bank ATMs –one of Andhra bank and another of Axis bank — at Ramanthapur, police said, adding they also set afire a hotel at L B Nagar.
Armed police pickets have been posted in the twin cities while prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC have been clamped in several major towns of Telangana.
Scores of passengers were stranded on the roads as the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) cancelled services in view of the shutdown that began in the wee hours.
The streets of the state capital wore a deserted look as shops remained closed. Agitators went on a rampage throwing stones at the Punjagutta and Ameerpet localities of the city.
Meanwhile, the condition of TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is on a fast for the last seven days demanding a separate Telangana state, remained “stable”.
According to state principal secretary Health, J Satyanarayana, KCR’s vital parameters like pulse rate, blood pressure and liver are normal.
Meanwhile, a host of Congress leaders, including PCC president D Srinivas called on him in the ICU at Nizam?s Institute of Medical Sciences.
Srinivas is believed to have told KCR about his planned trip to New Delhi tomorrow to prevail upon the Congress high command to take an immediate decision on the statehood demand.
Several Ministers, including Home Minister P Sabita Reddy, also met the TRS chief and appealed to him to call off his fast.
“We have told him that we have sent a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi explaining the prevailing situation over the Telangana agitation. We urged him to call off his fast,” Civil Supplies Minister J Krishna Rao said.
To a query, ministers said Chandrasekhar Rao has maintained his stand on continuing the fast until a clear assurance is given by the Centre.
Higher Education Minister D Sridhar Babu appealed to the students and their parents not to resort to violence.
However, students of city-based Osmania University, a nerve centre of the statehood movement, plan to hold a day-long protest in the campus, where a large number of Telangana supporters are expected to assemble.
–PTI