Protests In Amaravathi Over Move To Set Up New Capitals

The Andhra Pradesh capital has turned into a battlefield in the wake of the decision of the cabinet to approve the setting up of three capitals for the state.

The protesters, already on an agitation for over a month now, ratcheted things up - especially women farmers who protested at Mandadam, who laid siege to the road before the mandal headquarters' primary school. They entered into a heated argument with the police who asked them to withdraw.

Unruly scenes were also witnessed at Errabalem village under Mangalagiri mandal of Guntur district when the police tried to forcibly remove the agitators from the road. Defying the police, several farmers tried to proceed towards the state Assembly. Holding national flags, the protesters tried to plough through the police cordon to reach the Assembly, and the police used canes to disperse them. However, the lathi charge did not frighten the farmers and in fact appeared to galvanize them to continue with renewed vigour. A farmer of the capital was seen urging the police to fire at him.

Keeping these reactions in mind, the police had already invoked Section 144 CrPC in and around the capital area.