Telangana agitation: Andhra Pradesh HC advocate attempts suicide

Tension prevailed near the Andhra Pradesh high court when an agitating pro-Telangana advocate today allegedly tried to commit suicide by dousing petrol in support of demands including to provide 42% reservation in judiciary posts.

An advocate from Karimangar district of the state GV Gupta climbed the main gate of the high court, took a petrol bottle and tried to douse on himself, but was prevented by other protesting advocates. In the melee, the petrol sprinkled on at least four other advocates.

The court proceedings in the high court was paralysed for the third day today as the agitation launched by Telangana advocates continued even as scores others boycotted the proceedings and joined the protests outside the court.

A large number of advocates from different courts and from districts of Telangana region gathered in front of the entrance of the high court and raised slogans in support of separate Telangana state and against the government.        

Tempers ran high when protesting advocates tried to break the locked main gate of the high court. However, police deployed outside the court premises tried to pacify them.

Later, the advocates organised sit-in in front of the main high court gate causing traffic snarl on the busy road between Madina Building and Puranapul.        

Meanwhile, the fast-unto-death observed by three advocates S Satyam Reddy, who is also convener of Telangana advocates JAC, Jyothi Kiran and Vijay Kumar Goud entered fourth day today.

Advocates from Telangana, who have demanded 42% share in recruitment to the posts of government pleaders, assistant Government pleaders and standing counsels for various corporations in the high court, have been boycotting court proceedings at the high court, Nampally criminal court and in Telangana districts since Tuesday last.

Ugly scenes were witnessed in some court halls and at the chambers of registrar general in the high court as the agitating advocates demanding to enforce the boycott call had even vandalised chairs and furniture in the three court halls and allegedly threw placards on justice CV Nagarjuna Reddy,
during their protests in the past two days. 

Ramireddy, Telangana advocates JAC leader, said court proceedings in 10 Telangana districts were also disturbed today as lawyers boycotted their work expressing solidarity with the three advocates who were on indefinite hunger strike in support of Telangana advocates demand. 

The protesters have also demanded release of some advocates who were taken into custody and withdrawal of cases lodged against them besides resignation of advocate general D
V Seetharam Murthy.

The state government, has already appealed the striking advocates of Telangana region to call off their agitation as the government was ready to consider their demands.

The government said it has already constituted a three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee (with ministers Geetha Reddy, M Venkatramana and P Ramachandra Reddy as the committee’s members) on August 23, to look into appointment of law officers.