Sunday, Oct 06, 2013

Hyderabad: With sporadic incidents of violence continuing to worsen the anti-Telangana agitation in Seemandhra region, authorities on Sunday imposed an indefinite curfew in Vijayanagaram town.

Police had to open fire on many areas as mobs continued to attack the police as well as state Congress President Botsa Satyanarayana’s house and other properties.

At least three policemen were injured when miscreants threw petrol bombs and stones at them.

Meanwhile the power crisis, triggered by the strike of the employees of power utilities, worsened to the extent that the South Central Railway had to cancel or divert many trains.

Four districts of the Rayalaseema region and many part of coastal Andhra, including Krishna and Prakasham districts, were the worst hit by the power shut down. The situation threatened to become more complicated as the employees of the power generation corporation working at Sileru Hydel power plants also announced their plans to join the strike from Monday.

The situation in Vijayanagaram town worsened on Sunday morning when women agitators tried to attack Satya Engineering College, which is owned by Botsa Satynarayana’s family. When the police and central paramilitary forces lathi-charged the mob, they pelted stones. Finally the police had to use rubber bullets against the agitators.

At another location in the town, police fired two rounds against a mob that were throwing stones. Stray incidents of violence continued despite authorities imposing a curfew. Senior police official Vikram Singh Mann issued a warning that police would open fire on anyone violating the curfew.

Apart from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Rapid Action Force platoons were deployed in the town. They surrounded the house of Botsa Satyanarayana in the MG Road area and all the roads were sealed to keep the agitators at bay.

Two policemen were seriously injured after miscreants threw petrol bombs at them. They have been admitted to a hospital. Another policeman was injured after a stone pelting incident.

The violence in Vijayanagaram town started when the agitators attacked the businesses and properties of Botsa Satyanarayana’s family, blaming him for the bifurcation of the state.

Continuing violence in Vijayanagaram also attracted the attention of the top leaders of Congress in New Delhi. Leaders like Digvijay Singh, Ahmad Patel and Gulam Nabi Azad spoke to Botsa Satyanarayana over the phone and enquired about the situation.

The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also came under attack from those within his own party for his failure in bringing the situation under control. Supporters of Telangana have alleged that the Chief Minister was provoking the agitation further.

The disturbance in power supply due to the employees’ strike has resulted in the cancellation of 28 trains, including 4 express trains on Sunday. Some more trains will be cancelled or diverted on Monday, a spokesman said.

The cancelled trains include Chennai-Vijaywda Pinai and Jana Shatabdi Express trains. The route of Tirupati-Secundedrabad trains was also changed.

Vijaywada railway station, one of the busiest junctions in the state took on a deserted appearance.

The shut down has further compounded woes of passengers as the RTC bus service has been paralysed for almost two months.

Vijaywada and Krishna district have completely lost power. Many town including Gudivada, Avanigadda, PamarruMylavaram Hanuman Junction were plunged in darkness.

The power supply in the temple town of Tirumala was also stopped causing difficulties to pilgrims staying in the guest houses. Thousands of pilgrims were in town for Bhrmotsavam.

By Mohammed Siddique Correspondent

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