Bifurcation: Seemandhra continues to simmer with protests

Protests and demonstrations were also reported from Chittor,Kadapa,Anantapur,East and West Godavari,Guntur and Krishna districts.

State-run APSRTC has suspended its bus services in these regions in view of the agitation.

A spokesperson of the transporter said it incurred more than Rs 15 crore loss in the past four days on account of damage done to busses and service disruption.

“Our regional managers are in touch with district police officials and seeking their advise on running bus services to some of the sensitive places. Almost 40 per cent of the total services in the region were affected due to recent developments,” the spokesperson told PTI.

Educational and commercial establishments remained partially closed for the fourth day and in some regions petrol pumps were also closed.

Dwaraka Tirumala Rao,Inspector General of Police,Coastal Andhra,said the situation was under control and no untoward incidents were reported.

Rajeev Ratan,IG,Rayalaseema region,said the situation was under control and police arrested some persons in connection with vandalizing of statues.

“People are more or less are peaceful now and no untoward incidents have been reported,” Ratan said over phone.

In Anantapur,State Electricity Board officials organized a rally and shouted slogans against the division of state. MP Ananta Venkatarami Reddy also participated in the rally.

Police pickets have been posted at the residences of MPs,MLAs and at other vital places. Police patrolling has been intensified in Anantapur and other Andhra-Rayalaseema regions.

Meanwhile,TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s comments on government employees from non-Telangana regions drew a wave of protests all over Seemandhra region while employees belonging to the region held sit-ins during lunch-break here.

They also staged a demonstrations in front of the ‘C’ Block here where Chief Minister’s officer is housed.

Leaders of government employees in Vijayawada demanded apology from the TRS chief.

In East and West Godavari districts,commercial and educational institutions remained closed.