Normal life in all the 13 districts of the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions came to a standstill after the
Union Cabinet's decision to form a Telangana state was announced on Friday. A 48-hour bandh was announced by various JACs in the regions.
All shops, establishments, educational institutions, and transportation remained closed. While some areas wore a deserted look, a few streets resembled war zones, with crowds of protestors erecting road blocks, and burning tyres and effigies of Congress leaders.
The vehicular traffic on all state and national highways passing through the Seemandhra region was badly affected.
Massive protests were held in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Anantapur, Kurnool and other towns. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from a few places.
While TDP and YSRCP activists clashed at Anantapur, at Guntur, TDP activists attacked the District Congress office. A group of Samaikyandhra activists also attacked the residences of Congress leaders, including PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, Union minister K Krupa Rani and others.
The state police have been on alert since Thursday, following the presentation of the Telangana note in the Union Cabinet meeting. Security was beefed up after the Cabinet's decision was announced last night.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in the Seemandhra region, to maintain law and order. (INN)