Vizianagaram turned into fortress
VIZIANAGARAM: Police put in place heavy security arrangements, virtually turning the town into a fortress. Almost all roads leading to Vizianagaram were closed.
Hundreds of activists gathered at the Three Lanterns junction and Gantasthambham and made all efforts to reach the heavily guarded PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana's house near Pyditalli Ammavari temple.
The youth in the town have been continuing their agitation since Friday night and their main target is Botcha's house as they strongly believe that he is privy to a hidden agenda behind the division of the state.
On Saturday, a group of students attacked a place of worship and damaged property, allegedly in retaliation to an attack on them on Friday by some people of a community, who were employed as private guards of M Srinivasa Rao alias Chinna Seenu, nephew of Botcha Satyanarayana.
A bodyguard of Appala Narasaiah, brother of PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana, on Saturday night confessed to beating up protesters including two students who attacked Narsaiah's house.
Wiser by Friday's experience, the police took all steps to prevent the agitators from reaching the PCC president's house. The police lobbed tear gas shells as many as 30 times during the day to disperse violent mobs.
However, after a brief gap, scattered agitators gathered at the Gantasthambham again and tried to march towards Botcha's house. Students, armed with stones and bricks attacked the police, who retaliated in a similar manner.
Meanwhile, some students went to the collector's office and threw stones at the building. Police rushed to the spot and resorted to lathicharge to clear the mob. The scattered students then set fire to two-wheelers and also damaged furniture and air-conditioners at government offices.
Activists also reportedly burnt down two buses belonging to Avanthi Engineering College. As the situation spiraled out of control, the police fired about 13 rounds of tear gas at several places in the town.
According to a senior police official, an additional 500 police personnel have been despatched to Vizianagaram district to handle the situation. Police officials suspect the hand of anti-social elements behind the violent agitation.
A large number of students have been taken into custody by the police and shifted to various police stations.
Though the agitation turned violent, police maintained restraint. 'We have orders not to open fire. I have never seen such a violent agitation in Vizianagaram town in my 20 years of service,' said an inspector.
All shops, offices and schools remained closed on the second day of the bandh.
News Posted: 6 October, 2013
|
