Seemandhra bandh against Andhra Pradesh division evokes partial response

HYDERABAD: Bandh in 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh's Seemandhra region today in protest against the passage of the Telangana Bill passed off peacefully, even as additional security forces were deployed across the region as a precautionary measure, police said.

The bandh called by YSR Congress and Telugu Desam and supported by different organisations evoked partial response in most parts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions (Seemandhra) while in few districts it was total, they said.

Samaikyandhra supporters in large numbers took to streets in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa, Chittoor, East and West Godavari districts and several other parts of the region and participated in protest rallies, formed human chains and resorted to road blockades and raised slogans against AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

"The bandh was peaceful. The situation is under control and observation," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) VSK Kaumudi told PTI.

Security has been beefed up in Seemandhra region with deployment of additional forces including 25 more companies of central para-military forces and 13 companies of AP Special Police force, apart from the existing security forces, he said, adding that the district police have already been asked to be on alert and thwart any attempts to disturb law and order.

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus services across Seemandhra region were hit due to the bandh, while educational institutions - government as well as private - remained closed in most parts. Shops and business establishments were also shut at many places.

"The bandh was partial in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. There were protests at many places and bus services were affected in the morning hours. However, normalcy was restored by late afternoon. Even shops and commercial establishments were opened by evening," DIG (Visakhapatnam Range) P Umapathi said.

"The bandh went off peacefully and it had partial impact in Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore districts, though police took some protesters into preventive custody," IGP (Guntur Range) P V Sunil Kumar said.

Nearly 58 per cent of the total bus services run by APSRTC in the 13 districts was affected by to bandh.

"Some services were stopped by the agitators while we stopped some services in the morning as a precautionary measure," an APSRTC official said.