Bandh in Telangana over separate statehood demand

A bandh is being observed in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh in protest against the "indifferent" attitude of the Centre and state governments towards the separate statehood demand and recent suicides by two pro-Telangana supporters in Warangal.

In Warangal district, shops and business establishments, private educational institutions remained shut, however, the bandh seemed to have evoked a partial response in the state capital. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had given a call for the bandh in the region over the suicides by an MBA student Bhojya Naik and an auto-driver Rajamouli who immolated themselves allegedly for Telangana cause since Saturday last, and also to protest against the Centre and state government's indifferent attitude in resolving the Telangana issue.

TRS workers and supporters took out rallies and held demonstrations at Manikeswar Nagar near Osmania University here and at various places in Telangana districts to enforce bandh, however, police detained the agitators. The bandh was being supported by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), Osmania University JAC and Telangana Vidyarthi Ikya Vedika (TVIV) and pro-Telangana groups. However, in view of the SSC and other examinations the services of APSRTC were exempted from the bandh call.