HYDERABAD: As many as 28 persons were arrested and five cases registered in the attack on Atmakur police station in Kurnool district, where the car belonging to a BJP leader was set on fire by a mob on Saturday night.
The mob ambushed the police station, pelted stones and destroyed scooters. To disperse the mob, police opened four rounds of fire into the air. Some policemen were injured in stone-pelting.
Atmakur DSP Shruti said about 500 policemen have been deployed in the town, including two battalions of special teams and units of the armed reserve police. The police went around the town and held a route march through the main streets on Sunday.
The trouble began when Srisailam BJP in-charge Budda Srikanth objected to the construction of a place of worship at Padmavathi nagar on Saturday. “The local MLA allowed Muslims to construct the Masjid without permission in an area entirely inhabited by Hindu Balija caste people. The construction was objected to by the Hindus a year ago and its resumption is a deliberate attempt to insult the Hindus and provoke a communal clash,” Srikanth alleged.
Enraged over it, a group of people chased Budda Reddy’s car. He drove it straight to Atmakur police station and sought police protection. The mob of about 200 people stormed the PS and began pelting stones. Negotiations by the police failed and the mob set fire to Reddy’s car.
Circle inspector Subramanyam said three persons have been remanded including Srikanth. Several people are being taken into preventive custody and are being questioned about their role in the incidents.
Kurnool SP Sudheer said the situation was under control. “In a town of 50,000 residents, only 200 people created trouble,” he said and assured the public that the police would protect them.
Meanwhile, DGP Sawang said, “Some people were trying to instigate clashes. Police will take stringent action on those who tried to provoke people in the name of religion.” The DGP directed Kurnool SP to visit Atmakur and ensure maintenance of law and order.
