Curfew was imposed in Vizianagaram town in coastal Andhra after violent attacks on the property of transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana, and shoot at sight orders were issued on Sunday.
Curfew was imposed in Vizianagaram town in coastal Andhra after violent attacks on the property of transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana, and shoot at sight orders were issued on Sunday. The police arrested 32 people for arson and rioting in the town. Four of those arrested are said to be outsiders, two of them from Srikakulam. The town remained tense on Sunday as the united Andhra protesters hit the streets in the morning despite the curfew and pelted stones at policemen and targeted the Satya Institute of Technology and Management (SITAM) College in Gajularega, run by a relative of Mr Satyanarayana. Inspector-general of police D. Tirumala Rao said, “The situation is almost under control. The locals, unaware of the implications of the curfew are coming onto the roads. In the morning there were incidents of hurling stones on police. We have an adequate number of forces stationed in the city. Efforts are on to impose the curfew totally.” Director-general of police B. Prasada Rao said extra forces have been brought into Vizianagaram town. “There is no major violence in the town. An additional 35 companies of paramilitary forces are on their way.” Agitators were out in force in Kothapeta, Palliveedhi, Kota Junction, Dasannapeta, Kanyakaparameswari temple and other areas of Vizianagaram town on Sunday morning. The police had to fire rubber bullets in the air at Kothapeta, Gajularega and Palliveedhi and used smoke shells and resorted to caning to disperse the crowds. Normal life was paralysed in Vizianagaram town. Around 4,500 police and paramilitary forces sealed areas such as Korada Street, Sivalayam Street, Three Lamps area, Clock Tower, where Mr Satyanarayana’s house and those of his relatives are located. All shops, including medical stores, restaurants and cinema theatres downed their shutters for the third consecutive day in the town. Vizianagaram town and surrounding area were literally cut off from other parts of the region as no one is being allowed into the town and all vehicles are being checked.
