Protests disrupt normal life across Seemandhra

Normal life remain disrupted for the second consecutive day on Thursday in both Andhra and Rayalaseema regions following 48-hour band call given by pro-united Andhra Pradesh organisations in protest against the Centre's decision to bifurcate the State.

Shops, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed while buses were off the roads in all the major towns of Seemandhra region. Courts too did not function in many towns as the lawyers boycotted duties and joined protest. Rallies, dharnas, vandalising of statues of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, road and rail blockades were reported througout the day on Thursday. Police had to resort to mild lathi-charge at several places in Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Tirupati, Chittoor, Nellore, Vijayawada, Guntur, Eluru, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Viziaynagaram and other towns.

The residences of ministers including PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana became the targets for the Samaikhyandhra activists who demanded their resignations from the post immediate.

Meanwhile, in different cases, the Kadapa police prevented two youth from setting themselves ablaze.