Journalism of Courage
Tension prevailed in Vizianagaram town and other parts of the district on the third day of the shutdown on Sunday,as anti-bifurcation protests turned violent. Shoot-at-sight orders were issued in Vizianagaram.
We have no problem if the protests are peaceful,but if they turn violent we will deal with them according to the law. Today,violence was reported,there was arson and looting,and public and private property was damaged. The district cooperative bank was set on fire. Protesters were even beating up people who were going to buy vegetables or milk. We ordered curfew on Saturday night, said Coastal Zone IG D Tirumala Rao.
Sources said most of the protesters who targeted Satyanarayanas properties were YSR Congress Party workers. Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys fast entered the second day today.
While a total shutdown was observed in all 13 Seemandhra districts,clashes were also reported in Anantapur and Kurnool.
Meanwhile,the strike by electricity employees started affecting power generation and supply. On Sunday evening,Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy appealed to the employees to resume their duties as hospitals and essential and emergency services were getting affected due to power outages. Officials at Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station in Vijayawada said six of the seven units had to be shut down.
The South Central Railway cancelled several trains running on Kazipet-Vijayawada,Vijayawada -Gudur-Tirupati sections,expecting breakdown of power supply. Hundreds of villages in six coastal districts plunged into darkness as electricity employees went on strike.
