M A I N   N E W S

Curfew, shoot orders in coastal Andhra town
Stir takes violent turn in Vizianagaram, over 100 protesters detained
Suresh Dharur/TNS

The police fired rubber bullets in the air at Kothapeta area on the outskirts of Hyderabad and lathi-charged a mob in Palliveedhi area today.

villages without power, trains cancelled Hundreds of villages in six coastal Andhra districts plunged into darkness as electricity department employees went on indefinite strike  With power generation and supply hit, the Railways was forced to cancel some train services Employees on Sunday night agreed to restore supply in the six districts, but only on Monday morning Supply to Tirumala temple was also hit, but was later restored

Gurdwara damaged, SGPC writes to chief minister A gurdwara was allegedly damaged during a protest by united-Andhra supporters at Vizianagaram, triggering protests by Sikhs in Hyderabad and drawing condemnation of the National Commission for Minorities and the SGPC. Protesters also ransacked houses of Shikligar Sikhs. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar wrote to Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy, urging him to act tough against the culprits. He said the incident hurt religious sentiments and that the SGPC would not tolerate attacks on gurdwaras or community members.

Satyna Engineering College, run by family members of the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief B Satyanarayana, at Gajularega on the outskirts of Vizianagaram, was also targeted.

Inspector General of Police (North Coastal Zone), D Tirumala Rao, said curfew was imposed after angry agitators indulged in widespread arson and damaged public and private properties in Vizianagaram. Additional police forces have been deployed in the town to bring the situation under control.

The police has taken into custody over 100 pro-united Andhra agitators for allegedly indulging in violence in Vizianagaram and surrounding areas, a senior official said. Central paramilitary forces and state police personnel are deployed in large numbers in the town and its outskirts, he said. In a pitched battle between the police and protesters, nearly two dozen policemen, including Vizianagaram DSP, Krishna Prasanna, sustained injuries on Saturday.

Normal life has been thrown out of gear in the region, covering 13 districts.

The power situation in the state turned grim with about 70,000 employees of the power utilities launching an indefinite strike. The strike, called for by the Seemandhra Electricity Employees Joint Action Committee, affected power generation in the region, resulting in disruption of supply to dozens of towns and hundreds of villages in the region. The strike by electricity employees also hit train services in the region with the South Central Railway announcing the cancellation of seven passenger trains.

There is apprehension that the entire state might face severe crisis in the days ahead. If the strike continues for a few more days, it might hit the southern grid which links Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The striking employees made it clear that there would be no exemption to emergency services like hospitals, water supply and agriculture. The strike would continue till the Centre withdrew its decision to bifurcate the state, they said.

While YSR Congress Party, headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called for a 72-hour shutdown, the United AP Joint Action Committee gave a 48-hour bandh call. The impact was near total across Seemandhra. Jagan continued his fast against the division of the state for the second day today.

Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy has appealed to the agitating electricity employees to resume their duties. “Resume your duties since your strike is seriously impacting important services likehospitals, drinking water and the Railways,” he said. He directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to closely monitor the law and order situation and take stringent action against anti-social elements.

Earlier in the day, unidentified anti-Telangana activists hurled stones at police injuring its two personnel at Kanykaparameswsari temple, following which the police resorted to lathicharge. At least 30 agitators received injuries in police action and were admitted to local hospitals. The police also caned agitators at Dasannapeta Rythu bazar when they pelted them with stones. (With agency inputs)

State Cong chief’s college attacked

Satyna Engineering College, run by family members of the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief B Satyanarayana, at Gajularega on the outskirts of Vizianagaram, was also targeted.