Vizianagaram/Hyderabad: Curfew was imposed on Vizianagaram town on Saturday after violence escalated with mobs destroying property and indulging in arson to protest the Union Cabinet's decision to create a new state of Telangana.
Protesters repeatedly tried to storm the residence of AP state Congress chief Botcha Satyanarayana, who is presently in Hyderabad.
Defying prohibitory orders under Section 144 a huge mob gathered near Satyanarayana's house and shouted slogans against him.
The protesters hurled stones at the police. DSP Krishna Prasanna and six other policemen were injured in the stoning. They were rushed to hospital.
The entire area in Market Street, where the Congress leader's residence is located, resembled a battle zone.
Policemen have been deployed in huge numbers to keep away the mobs.
Police had to fir teargas shells as the protesters continued to throw stones. By afternoon, the violence spread to new areas.
The 48-hour bandh call has been given by Samaikhya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika.
Protesters attacked the house of Satyanarayana's brother and damaged cable network equipment and windowpanes and DCC president K. Veerabhadraswamy's house on Ring Road.
