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Four leaders including YSR Congress Honorary President Y Vijayamma, who went on an indefinite hunger strike here from August 19, opposing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh were today shifted to a local hospital after their health deteriorated, police said.
Vijayamma along-with former TDP minister S Aruna, MLC N Raha Kumari and MLA Y Srinivas Rao, who were on hunger strike since last five days, were forcibly taken to the government general hospital in the wee hours.
The leaders were fasting near the Municipal Corporation guest house here to press for their demands for a unified Andhra, when police swooped down on their camps and quickly took them away overcoming resistance from their supporters, in which a woman constable from the Rapid Action Force was injured, they said.
Vijayamma, who has been demanding "equal justice to all regions" has vowed to continue her fast in the hospital, which is under tight security cover.
Both YSR Congress and TDP have called for a shutdown today in Guntur town against the police action. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions, managed by TDP supporters remained closed.
Meanwhile, protests continued across the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions today against the proposed division, with united Andhra Pradesh supporters organising rallies, fast, human chains, 'jala deekha' (water satyagraha) in the coastal cities of Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry and elsewhere.
Yesterday, two TDP leaders, including an MLA from Proddatur Assembly constituency in Kadapa district, began an indefinite fast opposing the bifurcation.
