Protests against plans to carve out a new state in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state have led to sporadic violence.
A strike is being held in 12 districts and protesters have attacked public transport vehicles in some places.
The move to form Telangana state has plunged the state into political crisis. Over 100 lawmakers have resigned from the assembly. The move is also fuelling demands for other new states across India. Two parties in the eastern West Bengal state have said they will begin campaigning again for separate states.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is demanding a separate state and fairer treatment for Darjeeling’s Nepali-speaking Gorkha community.
And the Kamtapur Peoples Party (KPP) is demanding a separate state for the local Koch-Rajbongshi people.
The GJM has announced a four day strike in the Darjeeling region beginning Monday.
The KPP has said it will set up road blocks on highways in northern Bengal which connect India’s seven north-eastern states to the mainland.
