Uneasy calm ahead of Kapunadu padayatra

KAKINADA: An undeclared curfew-like situation prevailed over Kirlampudi on Tuesday with the entire 9,500-populated village under police control. It is the native village of Kapu Joint Action Committee state convener Mudragada Padmanabham and police have been deployed to prevent him taking up padayatra from Kirlampudi to Amaravati from Wednesday.

To enter the village, one should show identity proof like Aadhaar card, PAN, driving licence or any other proof and should mention the purpose behind their visit. The police are thoroughly searching bags and other materials. They are not leaving even RTC bus passengers also. Surveillance cameras have been set up around Mr Padmanabham’s house. According to sources, nearly 3,000 people have been deployed at the village with 20 DSPs, 24 CIs and 50 SIs.

Police pickets, check posts and others have been set up in Kirlampudi. The police are advising people against joining the padayatra. Many Kapu youth have been booked. Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni said they would not allow padayatra as Section 144 and Section 30 were in force. However, Mr Padmanabham said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was considering Kapus as anti-social elements and had deployed police personnel to avoid law and order situation in other districts in the state. Meanwhile in Gollaprolu, some women of Kapu community are inviting other women to join the padayatra, by going to their houses with kumkum.