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Madiga activists torch bus

Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi activists, who are demanding the categorisation of dalits into four sub-groups, torched an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus near Martur in Prakasham district of Andhra Pradesh late last night.

About 15 MRPS activists boarded the bus between Bobbepalli and Dronadula villages, took away the tickets, asked the passengers to alight and set the bus on fire, police sources said.

The activists resorted to a "road blockade" at Kathanakonda in Vijayawada and at Uplaguptam in East Godavari district, besides staging protests at various mandals.

A bandh, called by the activists at Jaggaiahpet in Krishna district, passed off peacefully and evoked a partial response. However, as a precautionary measure, the APSRTC had withdrawn its services.

MRPS volunteers have so far torched more than a dozen buses in the south coastal belt of the state since the agitation began last week.

MRPS president Krishna Madiga is on an indefinite fast at Hyderabad, since June 5 to press the demand.

A Rajahmundry report said MRPS activist Yarlagadda Kameswara Rao began an indefinite fast at Kadiyama in East Godavari district.

UNI

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