Protests continue in Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra regions

Protests continued in Rayalaseema and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth day today, against the division of the state.

Tension prevailed in Vijayawada and in places in Krishna district after the arrest of Lok Sabha member L Rajagopal in Hyderabad. His followers took out rallies and staged sit-ins across the city. Some of them attempted suicide by pouring kerosene at the city Congress office, though the police intervened and took three of them into custody.

Shops, business establishments, banks and government offices remained closed, and the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended its services.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the bus complex in the city and in other places in the district.

Several leaders visited the Telugu Desam Party MLA D Umamaheswara Rao and others who are on afast-unto-death in Vijayawada.

Two of the four students of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, who have been holding fasts-unto-death for the last three days, were admitted to a hospital after they fell ill, city police commissioner N Sambasiva Rao said.

The situation in the port city is peaceful, as no major incident of violence has been reported, he said.

The protesters have been holding road blockades, rallies and other forms of protests in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.