Hyderabad, December 13: Torching of vehicles, rasta and rail rokos, burning of effigies, relay hunger strike, closure of shops, establishments and theatres, and incidents of violence dominated the second day of the protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions today against the decision to form Telangana State.
As a precaution the State Road Transport Corporation suspended its services in the region. Students from Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Anantapur torched
about Rs 30 lakh worth of cables beloning to the BSNL and some student
activists attacked a police station to free three students detained there.
About 45 persons were arrested in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
The bandh was by far peaceful barring a few stray incidents. Resignation
of some elected representatives also continued for the second day.
In Rajahmundry, TDP leaders and activists performed a yagnam. In
West Godavari district, the agitators detained some trains at the Chagallu
station.
In Vijayawada, Mylavaram MLA and Telugu Desam party leader
Devineni Umamaheswara Rao threatened to go on an indefinite fast
in support of United Andhra Pradesh from tomorrow. Nuzvid MLA Ch Ramakotaiah and TDP leader Vamsi Mohan expressed their intention
to go on indefinite fast. In Guntur, Telugu Yuvata State secretary K Sambasiva Rao launched an indefinite fast. The bandh was total in Prakasam district.
The entire north Andhra observed the bandh which went of peacefully except for a few incidents. The APSRTC cancelled all its services in the entire north Andhra Region. The police arrested Telugu Desam MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu while he was participating in rasta-roko at Isukathota in Visakhapatnam city.
Agitators led by Praja Rajyam leaders stopped several Express trains in the city. Due to the rail-roko several trains were starnded at various railway stations.
Amaravati Express was help at at Vizianagaram station, Visakha Express at Garividi, Kirundal Passenger at S Kota, DMU passenger at Parvathipuram, Prasanthi Express at Naupada, Ratnachal Express and Palasa Passenger trains at Kancharapalem for about one hour.
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Mayor P Janardhana Rao and Deputy Mayor B Dorabbai and their team of corporators resigned from their posts.
–Agencies