The day-long Telangana bandh on Monday affected normal life in most parts of the region, including partially in the busy twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Normal life was impacted as supporters of Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) had called for one-day band in protest of what they described as police excesses during the ongoing ‘Sakala Janula Samme' agitation for separate Statehood and particularly during the Rail Roko stir.
Public transport was disrupted due to strike impacting the free movement of general public, educational institutions remained closed and shops and establishments downed their shutters. Normally a busy festive season shopping had retailers fuming at loss of business for the day.
Bus services
Meanwhile, the general public had some relief with the State Road Transport Corporation resuming bus services partially, following their staff decision to call off stir. The stir by auto drivers union for the day in support of the cause also met with mixed response with a section of auto drivers managing to ply them.
The Telanagana region, in particular, has been very badly hit due to the agitation which has entered 35{+t}{+h} day today. However, the suspension of ‘Rail Roko' programme on the third day came in as a relief to some of the stranded passengers.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi candidate, Mr Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, won the by-poll from Banswada Assembly constituency in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh. He defeated the ruling Congress candidate, Mr Srinivasa Goud, by a margin of 48,889 votes. The by-election was conducted following the resignation of Mr Pocharam Srinivasa in March this year, who quit from the Telugu Desam to join the TRS.
Meanwhile, a section of population has been seeking the Government and TJAC support to see that the educational institutions are spared from general strikes. They are keen that educational institutions are not affected so that students' academic career was not affected.