Shutdown hits normal life in Seemandhra region

Normal life in all 13 districts of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions came to a standstill as the 48-hour bandh call given by different JACs in protest against Union Cabinet's decision to form Telangana State began on Friday.

All shops, establishments, educational institutions and transportation remained closed. While some areas wore a deserted look, a few streets resembled like war zones with hundreds of protestors erecting road blocks, burning tyres and effigies of Congress leaders. The vehicular traffic on all State and National Highways passing through Seemandhra Region was badly affected.

Massive protests were held in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Anantapur, Kurnool and other towns. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from a few places. While TDP and YSRCP activists clashed in Anantapur, the TDP activists attacked Guntur District Congress office. A group of Samaikhyandhra activists also attacked the residences of Congress leaders including PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, Union Minister K Krupa Rani and others.

The State Police is on alert since Thursday following presentation of Telangana Note in Union Cabinet meeting. Security was beefed up after the cabinet's decision was announced last night. The police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order across the Seemandhra Region.