Bandh total, peaceful in West Godavari district

Eluru: The Left-YSRCP sponsored state-wide bandh went off peacefully acrpss West Godavari district barring minor incidents. The police as a precautionary measure house arrested several leaders in various parts of the district. In Eluru, the bandh was peaceful and total.

Shops and business establishments remained closed for the day in response to the bandh which was observed in protest against the Centre’s step-motherly treatment towards state.  

Police made elaborate security arrangements in the city and house arrested CPI district secretary Dega Prabhakar, YSRCP convener and former municipal chairperson Madhyahnapu Eswari in Eluru.

The CPI, CPM, CPI-ML New Democracy and MCPI(U) and YSRCP activists took out rallies in the city in support of the bandh. They reached the RTC depot and obstructed the movement of the buses from the depot. Following the obstruction, no RTC bus came on to the roads for the day.

With this, the people suffered a lot to reach their destinations. The theatres cancelled the noon shows. The banks also closed their shutters in support of bandh. Government offices also witnessed thin attendance following the bandh.  The schools also remained closed for the day.

Meanwhile, the CPI-ML New Democracy rally was stopped by police at Jute Mill Centre in the City on the National highway.  The activists mostly women workers squatted on the National highway resulting in traffic jam. Police told the activists that there was no permission for the agitation or the rally.  Police tried to arrest the leaders.

With this, there was a scuffle between police and activists. However, women activists alleged that police manhandled them when they were on a peaceful agitation. They stated that no women police were seen at the place though many women were taking part in the agitation. However, police denying the allegations said that no lathicharge or manhandling took place during the melee.

Later, they shifted the leaders to the police stations.  In Two  Town police station, police arrested seven leaders. The YSRCP leader Kiladi Durga Rao, CPM leader B Somayya, CPI leader Puppala Kannababu, New Democracy leader U Venkateswara Rao, IFTU leader Budda Venkat Rao, MCPI leader S Nagaraju were arrested by Two Town police.

In Three Town police station jurisdiction, they arrested YSRCP leaders Munnula John Gurunath, Boddani Srinivasa Rao, CPI district leader Kadupu Kannayya, K Krishnamachari, Congress City Committee president Rajanala Ramamohan Rao.

Police sources said during the bandh 70 activists were arrested in the town.    Meanwhile, TDP state leader and AP Handicrafts Development Corporation Chairman Pali Prasad and party workers took out a rally in the city in protest against the Cetre.