TELANGANA BANDH (CLOSURE) TOTAL , BUSES STONED

Hyderabad, July 22 (NSS): Once again, the RTC and private buses became sitting ducks for stoning by agitators on Friday in connection with the Telangana bandh observed all over the region.

            Scores of buses were damaged in stoning by the agitators in Hyderabad and surrounding areas only when the authorities tried to run the services to facilitate the commuters, especially the office-going staff and IT professionals. A few buses were also set on fire, while some bus drivers and conductors suffered injuries in the stone throwing.

            The Telangana Rashtra Samithi-dominated Telangana Political JAC called Telangana bandh today to protest against refusal to allow the body of Yadi Reddy, a youth who had committed suicide in New Delhi, into AP Bhavan premises for paying homage and also the proposed move of the State administration to use provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act against the employees intending to go on strike.

            The bandh, in the villages and towns in all the districts of the region evoked total response and the entire region was shut down with shops and business establishments remaining close, transport services withdrawn, educational institutions observing a holiday, petrol bunks stopping sales and so on. With the employees in various government offices extending support to the bandh, the usual hustle and bustle on the roads and streets were absent.

NO IMPACT IN HYDERABAD

            In contrast, the scenario in the State capital was completely different with normal life prevailing as if to prove the frustration and ire of the citizens against the frequent bandhs. Except for the cinema houses, petrol bunks and educational institutions remaining closed, the shops and business establishments functioned normally, though most of them kept their doors and shutters half closed. A few buses operated in the early hours but had to be withdrawn after they were targeted by the agitators.

            The Telangana protagonists from various political outfits also organized rasta rokos and dharnas in the main thoroughfares in and around the twin cities. In the districts, the agitators organized cultural programmes and sports activities.

            Even the Telangana advocates boycotted courts all over the region. While the courts in Secunderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nampally and Moinabad remained deserted with the advocates staying away and participating in the agitational programmes, the Hough Court work was also paralysed with the advocates staging a dharna before the main gate.

            While the Telangana region observed a bandh, the students in the Seemandhra region boycotted classes protesting against the assault on a Dalit employee in A.P. Bhavan in New Delhi by the TRS legislator, Mr T. Harish Rao, and also in pursuance of their demand for keeping the State united. The students also organized dharnas and formed human chains in various towns and villages.

            The police authorities made elaborate security arrangements all over the State in view of the on-going agitations in both the regions. The large deployment of police personnel at various sensitive spots and constant patrolling by the armed policemen has in a way helped in ensuring law and order. In fact, the bandh in the Telangana region passed off peacefully except for the incidents of stoning of buses. Tension prevailed on the Osmania University campus for some time when the students tried to organize a mock funeral procession of the Union Minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, holding him responsible for the student Yadi Reddy’s suicide in Delhi.