Curfew has been imposed in Vizianagaram town with police given the orders to shoot at sight in the wake of large-scale violence by anti-bifurcation agitators, police said here.
Vizianagaram, a town in coastal Andhra, has been roiling since the Union Cabinet’s decision to create the state of Telangana out of the existing state of Andhra Pradesh.
“Lot of violence was reported, with the protesters indulging in arson, setting a bank on fire, and damaging public and private properties. In view of the violence, authorities ordered a curfew late last night,” Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, IGP (North Coastal Zone), said.
People have been directed not to come out on the roads without permission. The curfew would be in force till further orders, the IGP said, adding that decision on relaxation will depend on the situation. “We are ensuring that there is no movement of public on the roads,” he said.
Additional forces have been deployed in the town which has witnessed widespread violence since Thursday. Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayna’s house in the town was attacked on Friday.
Some policemen were injured during last night’s incidents, Rao said.
The 48-hour bandh called by Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Association got over last night. The situation in Seemandhra, overall, was under control, the IGP said.
Our Staff Reporter from Vizianagaram adds:
Curfew fails to stop rioting in Vizianagaram
Protestors took to the streets on the third day on Sunday despite a curfew being imposed by the police from early morning.
The Central Armed Police Force requisition by the District Administration reportedly tried to enforce a curfew and manhandled women collecting water from tankers and were stoned in the process. In another instance. the police had to resort to firing. The police officials claimed they fired in the air, but unconfirmed sources said that a protestor was injured.
The town is swarming with police, yet the agitators are not relenting.
