Shutdown hits Normal life in AP

Normal life was hit across Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh today due to a bandh called by the students and Joint Action Committee (JAC) demanding immediate steps for formation of separate Telangana.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended its services in the city fearing attacks by bandh supporters.

Petrol pumps remained closed at various places in the city since late last night. Schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments were shut in Hyderabad and Telangana districts like Medak, Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Karimnagar.

The bandh was called by students of Osmania University the nerve center of the Telangana agitation following the alleged suicide by a student in support of separate statehood.

The all-party JAC formed to spearhead the agitation for separate Telangana supported the bandh in order to mount pressure on public representatives in Telangana region to quit their posts in protest against the Centre’s stand on the issue.

Meanwhile, students of Osmania University have kept the body of Venugopal Reddy, who allegedly committed suicide on the Telangana issue, in the varsity campus, and held a meeting hailing his “sacrifices” for the cause.

They are demanding that public representatives come to the varsity and pledge to resign from their posts to put pressure on the Centre to announce a time—frame for the formation of Telangana