HC anger at frequent bandhs

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday expressed anger at the frequent bandhs and rasta rokos being imposed on the people by political parties in the state and urged the government to attach assets of those who attack public and private property during agitations.

Justice B. Chandra Kumar made these observations while dealing with an anticipatory bail petition filed by Yadamakanti Chinna Rosi Reddy, one of the accused in attack on Reliance outlets in Khammam. The judge said the government should take a serious note of the Supreme Court directions in an earlier case to recover damages from those who aid, abet or instigate attacks on public property.

Political parties and their leaders should lead the people in a peaceful manner and should not indulge in destructive activities, the judge advised. He added that that burning of buses and damaging public and private properties amounted to committing crimes against society.

“Threatening anyone, damaging the property of any person and forcing people to submit to a certain view is totally undemocratic,” said the court. “It is feudal mentality to force any person to submit a particular view.” Interestingly, the court also mentioned the possibility of a plebiscite to assess public opinion in the light of the pro- and anti- Telangana agitations.