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Home  » News » TDP bandh brings life in AP to a grinding halt

TDP bandh brings life in AP to a grinding halt

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
January 25, 2005 13:32 IST
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The Telugu Desam Party's bandh call in protest against the killing of its Anantapur MLA, Paritala Ravi, on Monday afternoon brought life to a standstill in large parts of the state on Tuesday.

State transport buses stayed off the roads and train services were stopped at many places by TDP activists.

Earlier Report: TDP MLA killed in bomb attack

Educational institutions, petrol pumps, cinema theatres, hotels, shops and other business establishments remained closed in several towns and cities.

Even government offices wore a deserted look.

The situation remained tense in Anantapur district. An indefinite curfew is in place in Anantapur town and shoot-at-sight orders have been issued to curb violence.

Elsewhere in the district, several state-owned and private buses were set on fire by angry mobs. Protestors also burnt down the Kalyandurg mandal revenue office and set some police jeeps on fire.

Earlier Report: TDP workers burn down RTC buses

Rural telephone exchanges were also damaged at some places.

District Armed Police Force and AP Special Police Force personnel were called in to assist the local police. Scores of TDP workers were taken into custody.

Barricades have been put on all roads leading to Anantapur town to prevent the entry of TDP supporters from Penukonda and other places in the district.

TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by senior party leaders, has left by a bus for Anantapur to pay his last respects to the slain leader.

The cremation is slated to take place in Ravi's native village, Venkatapuram.

The chief minister, who was on a tour of Visakhapatnam district, returned to Hyderabad early on Tuesday morning and called a cabinet meeting to take stock of the situation.
 
Meanwhile, the state police has entrusted the case pertaining to Ravi's killing to the Criminal Investigation Department.

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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad