Seemandhra: Curfew, shoot-at-sight in Vizianagaram, violence continues

VISAKHAPATNAM/HYDERABAD: Curfew was clamped in Vizianagaram town and shoot-at-sight orders issued by district authorities in the wake of yesterday's large-scale violence by anti-bifurcation agitators who remained undeterred and indulged in fresh violence today and clashed with police.

Police fired rubber bullets in the air at Kothapeta area on the outskirts of Vizianagaram town in the face of stone- -pelting, and lathicharged a crowd in Palliveedhi area, as tension prevailed in the town and other parts of the district for the third day.

According to reports, 20 policemen have been injured since clashes broke out and they were taken to local hospitals while 30 protesters suffered injuries in today's violence.

According to Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, IGP (North Coastal Zone), curfew has been imposed and shoot-at-sight orders issued by the district administration. He claimed that the situation in Seemandhra was by and large under control.

Satya Engineering College, run by family members of the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana at Gajularega on the outskirts of Vizianagaram, was also attacked in the violence. The properties of Satyanarayana were being targeted by the protesters since the last two days.

Police have taken over 100 pro-united Andhra agitators into custody for allegedly indulging in violence in Vizianagaram and surrounding areas, a senior official said.

Central para-military forces, besides state police personnel, are deployed in large numbers in the town and its outskirts, the official said, adding Rapid Action Force (RAF) men held march near Clock Tower and Fort areas and on streets leading towards Satyanarayana's residence in the town.

Vizianagaram, a town in coastal Andhra, has been roiling since the Union Cabinet's October 3 decision to create the state of Telangana out of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Lot of violence was reported, with the protesters indulging in arson, looting shops, setting a bank on fire, and damaging public and private properties. In view of the violence, authorities ordered a curfew late last night," Rao told PTI.

Unidentified anti-Telangana activists hurled stones at police injuring two personnel at Kanykaparameswsari temple prompting police to lathi charge the agitators.

Police also caned agitators at Dasannapeta Rythu bazar when they pelted them with stones.

Pro-united Andhra protesters raised slogans against police and government when some women drawing water from road-side pipes at a residential colony on the outskirts of Vizianagaram were caned by police.

At some places, people who had no knowledge about imposition of curfew and related violence were seen moving on the streets as usual.