Bandh partial in Chittoor, YSRC leaders arrested
The arrested were taken to MR Palli police station
Tirupati: Bandh called by the Left and main opposition YSRC demanding special status to the state was partial in the district. There were arrests of YSRC MLAs and leaders at some places. A few stray untoward incidents have also been reported from the district.
In Tirupati, YSRC leaders including Nagari MLA Roja, Punganur MLA Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, Chandragiri MLA Chevireddi Bhaskar Reddy and YSRC state general secretary and Tirupati former MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy along with activists went round streets to enforce the bandh.
They started at RTC bus stand and covered the entire area including railway station, Gandhi road, Tilak road, Prakasam road and other arterial roads in the town by shouting at shopkeepers to close shops.
They obstructed vehicular movement at some places in the town. They did not allow RTC busses to run from bus stand. All long distance and local buses were halted at the bus stop to prevent damages in case the bandh turned violent.
CPM and CPI leaders separately went around the town to ensure shops and enterprises remained closed as mark of support to the special status.
Police arrested around 50 leaders, including MLAs Bhaskar Reddy, Narayana Swamy and Karunakar Reddy when YSRC tried to obstruct vehicular traffic at Poornakumbham circle. The arrested were taken to MR Palli police station, where they were kept till afternoon and were later released on station bail.
In Palamaner, YSRC activists led by MLA Amarnath Reddy blocked the highway for more than an hour which caused a kilometre-long traffic snarl. The police arrested the leaders who unheeded the cautions.
In Chittoor, YSRC members led by district Mahila wing president Gayatri forced shops to shut down at many important centres including Gandhi statue, old bus stand and railway station.
By afternoon, shops were reopened and normalcy was restored as the initial fervour abated.
Speaking to media, YSRC leaders said special status is right of every citizen of the state and criticised Mr Chandrababu Naidu and Mr Modi for hoodwinking the Andhra people by not realising their election promises.