Hyderabad: Sporadic incidents of violence
were reported on day three of protests today in support of a
united Andhra Pradesh as some miscreants indulged in arson at
a railway station in Anantapur district of the state.
A mob of 20 entered the Challavaripalli railway station
and burnt signal systems and blocked the instruments that
control train traffic signal system besides damaging furniture
and record room, IGP A R Anuradha told reporters.
"They (protesters) don`t know that the consequences of
damaging signal systems can be very serious. It may result in
major train accidents," she said.
Apart from damaging the railway station, a group of
miscreants pelted an IOC stockyard with stones at Guntakal
town and damaged two other offices besides setting afire three
vehicles in Anantapur and Kadapa districts, she said.
Protest rallies, relay and indefinite fasts continued for
third day in a row in coastal districts of Visakhapatnam,
Krishna and Anantapur and Chittoor district in the Rayalaseema
region, though the situation is by and large peaceful, the
senior police official said.
The protesters also resorted to `rail roko` in
Srikalahasti in Chittoor, Srikakulam and Kadapa districts,
Anuradha said adding 24 persons were arrested in connection
with the demonstrations in different districts of these two
regions.
The overall situation in the state is well under control.
People have responded to our calls and the violent acts were
brought under control immediately, she said.
To a query, Anuradha, who is also official spokesperson
of Andhra Pradesh Police, said they were closely monitoring
the situation (agitations by anti-Telangana protesters) in
view of the State Assembly resuming tomorrow in Hyderabad.
She said the police were taking up situation assessment
to deploy additional security forces including paramilitary,
if any, in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
Groups of students, political leaders and activists
belonging to various organisations continued their relay and
indefinite fasts and organised rallies in different districts
of the two regions including Visakhapatnam and Vijaywada.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport
Corporation suspended its services in the two regions, in view
of damages to its fleet during the anti-Telangana agitation.
PTI
