Hyderabad: Congress leaders beaten up in poll violence

Hyderabad: Several incidents of violence were reported hours before polling opened at 7 am on Friday. Reports said Congress candidates Pilot Rohit Reddy at Tandur and Vamshi Chand Reddy at Kalwakurthy were injured in attacks by rivals.

Police has registered cases in both the incidents and Mr Vamshi Chand Reddy has been admitted to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment.

Mr Rohit Reddy and four others were attacked by a group of persons with sticks at a farmhouse located on the Kodangal road near a railway underbridge. The cars of the party workers at the farmhouse were also damaged by the unidentified persons during the attack at about 3 am. They reportedly threatened Mr Rohit Reddy and his supporters with swords.

Mr Rohit Reddy later filed a complaint with the Tandur police alleging an attack by the supporters of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and requested that action be taken against them. Mr Rohit Reddy suffered minor injuries. A case was booked by the Tandur police in connection with the alleged attack.

At Jangareddypally in Amangal mandal of Nagarkurnool district, Mr Vamshi Chand Reddy was reportedly attacked by supporters of another political party when he visited a polling booth. Unidentified persons pelted stones at him and injured him, and also damaged his car by breaking the windows.

Mr Chand Reddy was taken to a primary health centre at Amangal and then was shifted to Nims in Hyderabad for the treatment. He filed a complaint to the police about the incident.

In another incident at Vellatur village in Suryapet district, a polling official was attacked by the locals for allegedly making an elderly woman to cast her vote against her will at booth no. 139.

At many places like Utnoor, Kodangal, Malkajgiri, Kukatpally and Jangaon, and several constituencies in the city, the public staged protests and expressed dissatisfaction over the removal of their names from the voters’ list, despite casting their vote in previous elections.

In another alleged attack on Congress leader K.S. Ratnam, his car was damaged at Ellakonda in Chevella, from where Mr Ratnam was contesting. Speaking to the media, Director General of Police M. Mahendar Reddy said, “Polling concluded peacefully amidst high security including in the 13 Maoist-affected constituencies. The EVM machines will be moved to strong rooms under high security and will be kept there till counting day. The public has extended great support to ensure peaceful elections.”

Another senior police official said, “There were a few minor incidents but no major incident of violence has taken place. In all the incidents that were reported to the police, an inquiry is on to take necessary action.”

In the 13 Maoist-affected constituencies Asifabad, Mulugu, Manthani, Bhupalpally, Sirpur Kagaznagar, Chennur, Bellampally, Yellandu, Kothagudem, Pinapaka, Mancherial, Aswarraopet and Bhadrachalam voters who were in the queue before 4 pm were allowed to cast their vote before 6 pm.