The Telangana agitation was further intensified on Thursday, with activists making their presence felt across the region on the 17th day of Sakala Janula Samme ("people's general strike") by holding protests before the residences of elected representatives.
The RTC strike in the region, too, entered the 11th day on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the proposed Secretariat bandh on Thursday was called off, following the release of
3 arrested drivers by the police.
However, the attendance in the state Secretariat was said to be below 50%.
Following the Secretariat bandh call, security was stepped up, with the Rapid Action Force and Task Force personnel standing guard at all the blocks. The agitators assembled at the J-block for some time, raised pro-Telangana slogans, and then dispersed.
With the exception of the staff's stir, the seat of AP's power remained quiet, with the absence of Telangana ministers as well as their counterparts from Seemandhra regions, who chose to boycott their chambers.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also functioned from his camp office, apparently due to the ongoing strike.
Officials said that both routine and emergency files have piled up, and that the administration is suffering because of non-clearance of even important files.
Ministers from Seemandhra were expected to function as they were outside the purview of the strike, but they, too, remained out of business.
At the main gate, the security personnel outnumbered the visitors, who were stranded as the staff that issues passes kept off from its duties.
After the strike started, the visitors' strength came down as well, as their public representatives were away or were operating from their homes.
At various other places in the city, and in districts, Telangana activists tried to barge into the residences of ministers and legislators, to register their protest.
In Ranga Reddy district, Telangana activists ransacked the office of the electricity department at Tandur. (INN)