Partial response to bandh in Seemandhra

Rallies and demonstrations against division of Andhra Pradesh marked the second day of bandh in Seemandhra, where normal life was today partially affected but the situation remained largely violence-free.

The bandh was observed in 13 districts of the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema (together called Seemandhra) and it evoked a partial response, affecting normal life in some parts of the region for the second consecutive day, police said.

The shutdown call was given by YSR Congress, APNGOs (a body of Government employees) and pro-united AP outfit Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika against the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill (Telangana Bill) in the Lok Sabha yesterday.

Protest rallies and demonstrations against bifurcation of the state were held across the region. Business premises and educational institutions remained shut, while services of APSRTC buses were affected in parts of Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, East and West Godavari, Guntur and Krishna districts.

"There were no untoward incidents. The bandh had partial impact in Anantapur while it evoked poor response in Chittoor and Tirupati," DIG (Anantapur Range) B Balakrishna told PTI over phone.

"Compared to yesterday (when the bandh was near total), it evoked partial response today," he said.

In the morning hours, protesters took out rallies and held demonstrations. However, normalcy was restored by afternoon, DIG (Visakhapatnam Range) P Umapathi said.

Bus services were disrupted in the morning but normal operations resumed by afternoon, he said, adding "some private educational institutions remained closed".

At many places, protesters held dharnas outside bus depots, forcing vehicles to remain indoors. The demonstrations were marked by slogans against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and burning of tyres.

YSR Congress workers, meanwhile, took out bike rallies in Anantapur and raised slogans in support of a united Andhra Pradesh.

A report from Vijayawada said some protesters threw brooms at the convoy of Union Minister of State for Finance, J D Seelam while he was on his way to Eluru town from Gannavaram airport.