Bandh in Seemandhra

• Samaikyandhra Joint Action Committee calls for protests, rallies
• Educational institutions, business establishments closed uStudents take out processions

Hyderabad: A peaceful bandh was observed in the Seemandhra districts on Friday in response to the call given by the Samaikyandhra Joint Action Committee demanding dropping of efforts to divide the State. Educational institutions and business establishments remained closed. Students took out a huge rally at Chipurupalli in Vizianagarm district, raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra. They formed a human chain on the main road. In Anantapur district about 850 APSRTSC buses of 12 depots were stopped as the JAC leaders staged demonstrations before them. They took out a rally in Anantapur. Private educational institutions declared a holiday in Guntur and in Vijayawada in response to the bandh call. The JAC leaders stopped buses of several engineering colleges and persuaded the students to form a human chain in Guntur. The police mane elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident. In Chittoor, students and members of the Samaikyandhra Parirakshna Samiti took out rallies in the main thoroughfares. They formed a human chain at NTR Circle and raised slogans in support of a united Andhra Pradesh. Traffic en route to the circle was paralysed after the bandh supporters took out a rally. The SVU and Dravida University postponed the examinations scheduled for the day. At Rajahmundry the Samaikyandhra struggle was intensified with the agitators raising slogans' samaikyame muddu, vibajana vaddu'. Students took out a huge rally and formed a human chain at Kotipalli bus-stand. They wanted the Congress Core Committee in its reports to favour a united State. In Kadapa district, the bandh was peaceful. The JAC leaders marched through the main roads forcing schools and colleges to close. They formed a human chain near the Collectorate and garlanded the Gandhi statue.