Amid the ongoing tension over Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation, members of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association nearly came to blows with their Telangana counterparts in one of two incidents here on Tuesday. The agitation launched by the Andhra Pradesh AP Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association in protest against the State’s bifurcation led to some tense moments when they almost came to blows with their Telangana counterparts at two offices. The APNGOA members, comprising employees from the Seemandhra region, decided to stage a sudden lunch-hour demonstration at the Jala Soudha, Irrigation Department headquarters, here, where Telangana officers were holding a function in honour of Telangana ideologue K. Jayashankar’s birth anniversary.
Friction mounted as the two opposing groups raised slogans and counter-slogans. Even as a scuffle threatened to break out, policemen posted in the area intervened and separated the two groups. .
The police reportedly attempted to take some APNGO members into preventive detention, raising the ire of their colleagues.
Eventually, the two groups were persuaded to observe restraint and they dispersed from the venue.
Meanwhile, similar tension prevailed at the Vidyut Soudha, electricity supply headquarters, here during the day. Telangana employees raised slogans when Telugu Desam Party MLA Payyavula Keshav entered the premises seeking to extend his support to employees in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh.
Security personnel, however, intervened and ensured Mr. Keshav left the venue before the situation escalated.
