West Godavari Agency bandh peaceful

Eluru: The agency bandh in West Godavari district observed in protest against the government’s decision to include Boya, Valmiki communities in ST list went off peacefully on Saturday.

In response to a call given by Adivasi Joint Action Committee (JAC), the activists took out rallies in the agency mandals Jeelugumilli, Polavaram, Buttayagudem, Velairpadu and Kukkunuru.

All the shops remained closed in various agency villages in these five mandals. The RTC suspended its services to interior villages in these mandals as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the police made elaborate security arrangements in these five mandals following the bandh call given by the Adivasi JAC. The government offices also closed in the agency area. Schools, business establishments also closed for the day.

The Adivasi JAC took out a rally in Kukunuru.

The activists stopped the buses which were plying from Andhra to Telangana. JAC leader Kuram Sanjeeva Rao demanded that the government withdraw its decision, including Valmiki, Boyas in ST list. Adivasi leaders Kouluri Sreenu, Madakam Chandra Rao, Podiam Venu, Madakam Nageswara Rao and others took part in the bandh.

In Jeelugumili mandal, the government offices, schools remained closed following the bandh. The Adivasi JAC activists resorted to road blockade at Jagadamba Centre in Jeelugumilli. JAC leaders Modiam Srinivas, Komara Venkateswara Rao, Pandu Bhaskar Rao, Modiam Prasada Rao and others took part in rasta roko. They submitted a memorandum to tahsildar on their demands.