The Joint Action Committee of pro-Telangana forces on Saturday announced a fresh round of agitation programmes, beginning with “vanta-varpu” in all districts of the region, except Hyderabad on July 12 to press demand for separate state.

This will be followed by rail blockades on the 14th, said JAC leader M Kodandaram in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The JAC has also called for a general strike in the region on August 1, as government employees too would launch a strike from that day.

“Various employees’ associations will issue a strike notice to the government on July 13. We will also involve employees of AP State Road Transport Corporation and Singareni Collieries in the strike,” Kodandaram said.

The JAC has also decided to take out protest marches and hold public meetings across the region to mobilize support for the strike.

Kodandaram demanded that the state Cabinet ministers, who have quit as members of the Legislative Assembly over the statehood demand, stay away from their official duties.

Centre sends 6,000 troops to Telangana region

The Centre has rushed nearly 6,000 additional paramilitary forces to Andhra Pradesh to deal with any untoward situation arising due to the Telangana agitation there.

The fresh contingent will join the already deployed 4,000 personnel of the CRPF in the state for the same duty.

According to official sources, the fresh contingent includes 53 companies of the CRPF and six companies of the specialised anti-riot Rapid Action Force (RAF).

Each company has about 100 personnel.