Amid ongoing agitation in support of a unified Andhra Pradesh, the state government on Saturday asserted it would not remain a mute spectator to any act of violence and deal with perpetrators with a firm hand.
Talking to reporters along with State Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao in the Secretariat on Saturday , Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy warned protesters against disrupting normal life and causing damage to public and private properties in the ongoing protests in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
"Please carry out your protests in a peaceful and restrained manner and do not cause any destruction to properties," she appealed and assured people that they need not be alarmed as the government would ensure full security.
Sabita also appealed to students not to boycott classes and take to streets as it would spoil their career.
Replying to a question, the home minister said they have not yet withdrawn criminal cases against leaders, students and those associated with the separate Telangana agitation recently.
"We have not yet received any official request from the Centre asking for withdrawal of cases. I too have heard about Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on this issue," the minister said.
Meanwhile, IGP A R Anuradha, who is the official spokesperson of Andhra Pradesh Police, told reporters that 47 persons were today arrested in connection with the violent incidents reported in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region of the state, during the second day of bandhs and protests demanding for united Andhra Pradesh.
The anti-Telangana protesters, including students, set fire to huge quantities of BSNL cables in a building near Srikrishna Devaraya University in Anantapur district, causing loss worth over Rs 30 lakh, she said.
"19 cases of damages to public and private property have been reported and three buses were set to fire while as many as 600 demonstrations were reported today in different districts of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region," she said.
The senior police officer asked protesters to inform the SPs of respective districts before they resort to demonstrations and rallies. PTI
