Karimnagar, Sept 06: A bandh was observed in the district today in response to a call given by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to protest the demolition of Telangana martyrs' statue by the municipal authorities here yesterday, police said. About ten RTC buses were damaged in stone pelting while TRS workers staged dharna and organised `rasta roko' at various places in the district even as Karimnagar police arrested 53 TRS activists including MLA, R Papa Rao and Municipal Chairman, Vavilala Hanumantha Reddy. A P Express was stopped at Ramagundam and Singareni, Telangana passengers were stopped at Jammikunta in the district, as a part of 'rail roko' programme, police said. Educational institutions in the district remained closed while commercial activities remained unaffected.


An effigy of district collector was burnt to protest the dismantling of the statue.

TRS leaders demanded the government to reconstruct the proposed statue and suspend the municipal commissioner "who is allegedly responsible for the demolition of the TRS martyrs' statue on Friday". Bureau Report