10 Injured In Ap Bandh

At least 10 people were injured in a police lathicharge when the state-wide bandh, organised by various farmers organisations and political parties in Andhra Pradesh yesterday in protest against the anti-farmer policies of the ruling Telugu Desam, turned violent.

Nearly 1200 agitators were arrested while obstructing traffic at several places and pelting stones at buses in Nalgonda and other areas, police said.

The bandh, however, evoked partial response as shops, business establishments and banks functioned normally in several areas while they remained closed in some parts of coastal and Telangana districts, they said.

The general secretary of A P Ryotu Sangham, K Nageshwara Rao, claimed at a press conference that the bandh was total and successful despite attempts by the police to foil it.

Angry demonstrators hurled stones at the state-owned road transport corporation (APSRTC) buses and deflating bus tyres in Nalgonda, Warangal districts and twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the police said.

The Rythanga Aatma Hatyala Nivarana Aikya Porata Vedika (joint struggle committee to prevent farmers from committing suicides), comprising 13 farmers outfits including those affiliated to Congress, CPI, CPI-M, BJP, CPI-ML and Jai Telangana party participated in the bandh.

Their demands included payment of ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the families of farmers who committed suicides, compensation at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre for those whose crops were damaged, legislative measures to curb exploitation of farmers by money lenders, introduction of crop insurance scheme, waiver of agricultural loans, free supply of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.

Rao said the agitators had disrupted two south central railway trains Krishna Express and Kanyakumari Express at K Samudram in Warangal district and Adoni Twon in Kurnool district as part of the bandh.