Date:11/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/11/stories/2005031106870300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Bandh hits Inter examination

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, MARCH 10. Though the response to the bandh call given by the Maoists in the district on Thursday in protest against the alleged fake encounter at Manala in Nizamabad district by the police on March 7 was partial the cancellation of bus services to interior village hit the Intermediate students appearing for examination badly.

The cancellation of APSRTC and private bus services to interior villages reportedly denied appearance in their first examination to about 1,130 Intermediate second year students. Though some of them could manage alternative means of transport it was delayed by the time they reached their examination centres. Question papers also reached a few centres late.

Closure of post office due to bandh also affected returning of answer sheets to the valuation centres. As a result, the examination centre supervisors were directed to keep the answer sheets in the safe custody of their nearest police stations or sub-treasury offices till tomorrow.

APSRTC and private bus services on all main routes plied normally on those to the interior places were cancelled. All the Central Government organisations like banks and other offices, some State Government offices remained closed. A majority of the commercial establishments too functioned normally.