Tuesday, January 25 2005 10:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: The bandh called by opposition TDP (Telegu Desam Party) to protest the murder of party MLA Paritala Ravi in Anantapur district began amidst tight security in Andhra Pradesh this morning (Jan 25, 2005).

As a precautionary measure the State Government had imposed 24 hours curfew in Anantapur town and district headquarters, SP Praveen Kumar said.

The curfew would be inforced till tomorrow morning (Jan 26, 2005).

Former Chief Minister and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu along with his party leaders left by road to Anantapur to participate in the funeral of Ravi at his native place Venkatapuram.

Incensed over the killing of its party legislator, TDP demanded dismissal of the Congress Government yesterday (Jan 24, 2005) and a judicial probe into the incident.

A TDP delegation led by the party supremo Chandrababu Naidu met Governor Sushilkumar Shinde and urged him to dismiss the Rajasekhar Reddy Government holding it responsible for a 'spate of vindictive killings.'

The Opposition party also demanded CBI inquiry to unearth what it called a 'deep-rooted conspiracy by the ruling party bigwigs to eliminate political opponents.'

"The Chief Minister is fully responsible for this attack. He and his son (Jagan Mohan Reddy) have conspired to eliminate our party leader and have misused power to organise the killing," Naidu told reporters after submitting memorandum to the Governor.

Regarding the bundh today the TDP chief said, "We had earlier petitioned to the President, Prime Minister, Governor and central Government about the targeted political violence in the state. But, our pleas fell on deaf ears."