Special Status Emotions: Man on Cell Tower for 36 Hours

Sanjeeva Rao, a 40 years old Realtor from Peddakakani, Guntur district climbed a 300 foot BSNL Tower in Autonagar threatening to jump off demanding the Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. The man got on to the tower on Saturday morning and lasted there for 36 hours before the officials convinced him to get down. Sanjeeva Rao took some food along with him and survived on it.

NDRF commandos were pressed in to action and Nets were spread around the cell tower to save him. But the NDRF personnel backtracked from climbing the tower, they were asked not to do so by the family members of Sanjeeva Rao, fearing he might jump if they take such a step. Agriculture minister Prathipati Pulla Rao and MLC Nannapaneni Rajakumari rushed to the spot and tried to convince him to get down in all possible ways.

On Sunday around 9.30PM, Sanjeeva Rao climbed down the tower after district collector Kantilal Dande promised him to facilitate a meeting the Prime Minister regarding the Special Status. Emotions are riding high in Andhra Pradesh as Central government gave strong indications that the truncated state may not be getting Special Status as promised during the time of bifurcation.