Stray incidents of hooliganism in Hyderabad marred the otherwise uneventful bandh called by all political parties for 42% reservations for Backward Classes in local civic bodies.
Violence was reported from Nallakunta, Barkatpura and Abids in Hyderabad when groups of men on motorcycles targetted a fuel station, an electronics showroom and even a tiffin centre demanding that they close down in solidarity with the bandh. Police officials reached the spot and pushed out the protesters.
However, the bandh had negligible impact on civic life in Hyderabad and in the districts where private buses plied normally, autorickshaw transport was not affected, fuel stations were open and shops also functioned normally. Both private and government schools remained closed.
Commuters travelling to districts for Deepavali, who had bookings with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGRTC), were the worst affected as the transporter sent out messages about inability to operate the service during the day due to the bandh.
RTC buses were off the roads till noon when skeletal services resumed from almost all the depots in the city. The Hyderabad Metro Rail services were unaffected through the day.
“If shops and restaurants are functioning it does not feel like a bandh. Earlier, whenever there was a bandh we would be worried about taking out our vehicles. Now, everything is functioning. We have less business because some of these offices are also shut,” said Shankar, an auto driver standing near AAA Cinemas in Ameerpet.
Published – October 18, 2025 09:50 pm IST
