Normal life in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh was disrupted on Tuesday due to the two-day bandh called by the Telangana political Joint action Committee (JAC) in support of their demand for a separate state.
Schools, colleges, shops and other commercial establishments were closed and public transport services were hit due to the bandh in all Telangana districts.
The JAC, which has announced a series of protests in support of the separate statehood call, has also called for a rail blockade on July 8 and 9.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended its services at various places as a precautionary measures and commuters had a tough time reaching their destinations.
The bandh supporters held demonstrations and stopped vehicular movement at various places.
City buses of APSRTC in Hyderabad largely remained off the roads and consequently, the auto drivers had a field day.
Police have made elaborate security arrangements in view of the bandh and no untoward incidents was reported from anywhere in the morning hours.
JAC has also planned to organise the blockade of national highways and other protests in the coming days, TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Monday after a meeting of the JAC. The JAC comprises TRS, BJP and a number of peoples’ organisations.
Banking services hit by bandh
Banking and financial activities have come to a standstill in Telangana region due to the bandh call.
According to All India Bank Officers Association, banking transactions worth Rs 20,000 crore will be affected during these two days as most of the 5,000 odd branches of all banks in the region may remain closed.
V Anil Kumar, General Secretary, AIBOA, Andhra Pradesh unit said that the total transactions of all banks put together in Telangana region will be around Rs 10,000 crore per day.
“Most of the branches will be closed in the region fearing attacks. We are more worried about bank properties.
Some of the branches of Andhra Bank in Telangana were attacked during bandhs in the past. We do not want that,” Anil Kumar told PTI.
Though clearing houses will not be affected today, the same may affect tomorrow as people cannot deposit cheques today.
It will take three days for bank employees to clear the backlog, he added.
According to an official spokesperson of All India Insurance Employees Association, the bandh may show affect on insurance premium collection in the region.
