Mudigonda (Khammam): Tension prevailed in Mudigonda on Saturday after three farmers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the ransacking of three offices in the Khammam market yard.
The farmers, identified as Mandepudi Anand Rao, resident of Chirumarri and T. Venkanna and S. Koteswara Rao, residents of Banapuram under Mudigonda mandal, were arrested in the early hours of Saturday and taken to the Mudigonda police station.
The news of their arrest spread like wildfire and other farmers, led by TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and DCC chief A. Satyam reached the police station to demand their immediate release.
They described the arrest as illegal and raised slogans against the government. When the cops refused to give in to their demand, Mr Vikramarka and the others staged a dharna in police station premises.
“Instead of resolving the problem of chilli farmers, the government is using force to suppress their voice,” Mr Vikramarka said. He added. “There is no security for farmers in TS. The CM is trying to implicate innocent farmers in police cases”.
The dharna continued for about 3.5 hours, and senior police officials, rushed to Mudigonda and tried to get the protesters to leave the police station. They told the protesters that the farmers were arrested after prima facie was found against them. When Mr Vikramarka refused to leave the police station, he, along with the other protesters, was arrested.
