Kapu violence: Cops file 50 cases on Mudragada Padmanabham

Tuni (East Godavari)/Hyderabad: As normalcy returned to Tuni on Monday after Sunday’s violence during the Kapu Ikya Garjana, police booked around 50 criminal cases against Kapunadu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and others for attacking cops, burning police stations, vehicles and railway properties.

The police claimed to have found prima facie evidence that antisocial elements with malicious intent from outside — from Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts — had played a key role in the violence. Conspiracy sections of IPC have been added in the FIRs against the accused.

Cops having look at video, calls
Cops are also examining available video footage and call data records.

Authorities are, however, hesitating to arrest the Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padman-abham, who is the prime accused in these cases. Meanwhile, Section 144 and Section 30 have been imposed in Tuni and Vizag and other parts of the state to prevent untoward incidents.

A senior AP IPS official said, “Around 50 cases have been booked including 10 cases pertaining to the railways. We have identified people involved in the arson and stern action will be initiated after collecting evidence. We will also open rowdy-sheets against the prime accused. Mudragada and the owner of the coconut grove were also named as accused in the case as the former was at the helm of the affairs. Around 15 policemen were injured, all of them are out of danger. We are also examining the allegation of TD leaders that YSR Congress leader B. Karunakar Reddy had financed the meet.”

Police personnel and intelligence sources said that a few leaders of the Opposition parties in Tuni and Payakaraopeta towns had played a key role in guiding the rowdy elements to indulge in violent activities.

ADGP (law and order) R.P. Thakur said that the Kapu leader had organised the Garjana without police permission on Sunday. However, the police had made adequate arrangements to manage the traffic.