The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mixed response to bandh call

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 21, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mixed response to bandh call

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 20. The State- wide bandh call given by the CPI (Maoist) in protest against what they called encounter killings evoked a mixed response on Thursday.

It was marred by the killing of three Maoists allegedly in an encounter in Karimnagar district and pelting of stones on two private buses in Anantapur district.

The bandh was partial to near total in Telangana districts where naxalites' presence is strong. In Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, the impact was felt in pockets where naxalites had support. The police made elaborate security arrangements all over the State anticipating trouble.

RTC bus services were suspended in several districts in view of the bandh call and passengers had a tough time.

Near total in Telangana

In the naxalite hotbed of Telangana it was near total in several areas. Barring the encounter killing on the outskirts of Siricilla, the bandh was peaceful in Karimnagar district. The bandh was almost total in Kamareddy division, Armoor and Yellareddy towns of Nizamabad district and partial elsewhere.

In Warangal district, it was total in agency areas. In Medak there was limited response, but it was total in Dubbaka mandal. There was no impact in Nalgonda. A bandh was observed in Nagarkurnool, Atchampet, Kollapur and Bijenapalli of Mahabubnagar district.

Buses targeted

In Anantapur, Maoists forced two private buses proceeding from Hyderabad to Bangalore to stop at Sitarampuram village on National Highway 7. They hurled stones damaging the windscreens and left the place shouting slogans. The bandh was total in Uravakonda, native place of a Maoist cadre, Nagaraju, who was allegedly killed in an encounter with the police on Wednesday.

In Cuddapah, six Maoists intercepted three APSRTC buses near Madhavaram village and warned the drivers against running them. In Kurnool, the Atmakur- Dornala ghat road was closed on Wednesday night and stranded bus passengers accommodated in local lodges.

The bandh evoked a partial response in Guntur district. It was total in Markapur town of Prakasam district.

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