A bandh was observed for the second consecutive day in the 13 districts of Seemandhra on Friday in protest against developments over bifurcation of the State.
On Thursday, the bandh was organised in protest against introduction of bifurcation Bill in Parliament but it was held today against the alleged attack on Seemandhra MPs in Parliament.
The bandh was sponsored by AP Non-Gazetted Officers Association and supported by Telugu Desam and YSR Congress.
Barring obstruction to the convoy of Union Minister of State for Finance J.D. Seelam, first near Vijayawada and later in Rajahmundry, the bandh passed off peacefully.
Educational institutions, shops and establishments remained closed throughout the region. Students, employees and political workers took to roads and organised rallies and human chain besides burning effigies of senior Congress leaders.
Mr. Seelam who arrived by train at Vijayawada in the early hours of Friday as part of an official tour faced the ire of protestors as his convoy of vehicles headed towards Eluru on the national highway.
A broom was thrown at his convoy near Hanuman junction.
Later in the day, a group obstructed the convoy at Rajahmundry. A scuffle ensued between police and the crowd.
The bus stations wore deserted look at Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool as the fleet was confined to depots throughout the region. The Collectorate in Kadapa was also empty.
The Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati postponed the semester end exams while the local MLA B. Karunakar Reddy led a rally in the town.
Rasta roko was staged on Chennai – Kolkata national highway in Ongole and Muppavaram and Medarmetla – Hyderabad State highway near Addanki in Prakasam district.
