Violence erupted in the district when pro-Telangana activists went on the rampage at several places disrupting rail and road network. Several trains were stopped and two compartments of Nagpur Passenger were set ablaze at Hasanparthy here on Thursday.
The protesters stopped Singareni and Krishna Expresses at Nekkonda and Swarna Jayanti Express at Dornakal. At Mahabubabad town and at Hasanparthy, the activists pitched tents on the railway tracks and stayed put. At Hasanparthy, they also removed fish plates hindering rail movement. They also damaged the outdoor broadcasting van of a television channel.
The agitators set afire a lorry laden with chillies which came from Vijayawada at the Enumamula agricultural market.
Across Warangal and Hanamkonda, students and employees burnt tyres on the roads obstructing vehicular movement on the Warangal Karimnagar road.
Thousands of students from Kakatiya University stormed the main thoroughfares raising slogans in favour of separate Telangana.
The protestors also set afire hotels in Warangal town belonging to Andhra settlers. Workers struck work in the Bhupalpalli open cast coalmines expressing solidarity with the agitating students.
The bandh was total in the district with all the establishments remaining closed. ASPRTC buses were off the roads. The agitators did not allow even autorickshaws to operate thus causing untold hardships to public. Those residing in the tribal areas were deprived of essentials as buses were off the roads.
