Police arrested the ‘Jai Andhra’ and ‘United Andhra Pradesh’ supporters, when they made an attempt to take processions separately, in the city on Sunday.
The Jai Andhra leaders, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tried to organise a rally from Deen Dayal Bhavan, located at Nakkal Road to Lenin Centre. However, the police thwarted the attempt and took them into custody.
The protestors raised slogans demanding bifurcation of State for better development. Police shifted the arrested persons, including a few women, to Suryaraopet police station.
Speaking on the occasion, Pratyekandhra Udyama Committee chairman Narasimha Rao said the local public representatives were focussing on development of Hyderabad and the neighbouring districts in Telangana region.
But, the leaders were neglecting coastal region. Many districts remained underdeveloped when compared to Telangana area, he said and demanded the division of the State, for development of Andhra region.
BJP State official spokesman U. Srinivasa Raju said many industrialists, educationists and the political leaders were investing in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts. People were suffering with bad roads, poor drinking water, education and medical facilities in coastal districts, he said.
Police kept Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi leader Naraharisetty Srihari under house arrest, at Islampet in the city. The police took a few United Andhra Pradesh activists into custody when they raised slogans at Lenin Centre.
West Zone Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) T. Hari Krishna said, both the groups requested permission for organising protest programmes.
But, permission was not granted for them sensing law and order problem, he said.
Elaborate security was arranged at many junctions including Prakasam Barrage, Lenin Centre and other places, in the city to prevent any untoward incidents.
