Telangana bill: Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema regions observe bandh

Hyderabad: Normal life was badly affected in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions as a bandh against the Union Cabinet's approval of a bill for division of Andhra Pradesh began this morning.Leaders and activists of TDP, YSRCP and other United Andhra supporters organised protest across the two regions. The buses of State-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) remained off the roads and shops and other commercial establishments and educational institutions remained shut.The Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs), who held prolonged strike against division of Andhra Pradesh earlier, the YSR Congress and Seemandhra TDP leaders gave separate calls for bandh against division of Andhra Pradesh. An alert has been sounded by police and additional security forces have already been rushed to the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema areas ahead of the Union Cabinet's approval of division of AP, to maintain law and order. A report from Vijayawada said TDP MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and his followers were taken into custody by the police when they staged protest at Benz Circle in the city against the Centre's decision.APSRTC sources in Vijayawada said all services, including the long distance ones, were suspended due to hurdles created by the agitators on highways. Only the night services were only allowed to reach their destination and later they were also suspended.Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Velampalli Ramachandra Rao said though the chamber has not given any bandh call, yet the businessmen from the city have voluntarily closed their shops while expressing anguish over the Union Cabinet's decision.The Union Cabinet last night approved a bill for the creation of a Telangana state with 10 districts, paving the way for division of Andhra Pradesh. A report from Visakhapatnam said the bandh against the Centre's decision evoked a partial response in the port city. Schools, banks and business establishments remained shut as the agitators forced their closure. Though the APSRTC plied its buses in the city and on long route services in the morning, later the services were suspended in rural areas as the agitators obstructed the vehicular movement.The activists of YSRCP and TDP took out rallies in the city against the Centre's decision to bifurcate AP. Representatives of Samaikya Andhra Vidyut Employees JAC said they will chalk out an action plan at a meeting in Hyderabad on December 9 and 10 against the bifurcation. Students JAC convener L Govinda said they were totally against the bifurcation and will intensify their agitation. Meanwhile, police beefed up security at vulnerable places to maintain law and order.The situation is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported so far, police added.