TRS bandh takes violent turn,to continue till KCR’s release

At least four TRS workers tried to immolate themselves in Medak,Karimnagar and Warangal on Monday afternoon. Thousands of commuters were left in the lurch as angry TRS workers forced buses,autorickshaws and other vehicles off the road and enforced the bandh by ordering business establishments to shut shop. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport cancelled its bus services in 10 districts.

In Hyderabad at least 1,500 city buses remained in depots after TRS workers started attacking buses. Workers staging rasta roko near Secunderabad set a private school bus on fire in the morning.

All business establishments,educational institutions remained closed in the city due to the bandh. At least 200 TRS workers were arrested in Hyderabad,Warangal,Nalgonda,Karimnagar and Medak for blocking roads and trains and forcing shopkeepers to down shutters,attacking autorickshaws and private buses.

TRS Siddipet MLA and KCR’s nephew T Harish Rao said the bandh would continue till KCR was released from jail. In a surprise move,APSRTC employees union and employees of state-owned Singreni Colleries expressed their support to KCR and struck work.

The situation was tense outside the Khammam sub-jail where the TRS leader is being held,with a large number of TRS workers setting up roadblocks and sitting on dharna.

The Osmania University,which witnessed violence on Sunday,has announced that all colleges on the campus would remain closed till December 3. The university has also postponed examinations to December 7. Police stayed away from the Osmania University campus in compliance with the direction of the State Human Rights Commission.