GAJWEL: Increased police presence and the arrest of 11 persons restored order to Gajwel town on Wednesday, following clashes between two groups over provocative social media posts following an incident of desecration of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s constituency.
Dubbak MLA M. Raghunandan Rao, of the BJP, was also taken into preventive custody on Wednesday, as the police picked him up at Hakimpet Air Force Station and shifted to Alwal police station.
Siddipet police commissioner N. Swetha said that stringent action will be taken against those who hurt the sentiments of another community and disturb public peace. She said that besides deploying additional forces, pickets and check posts have been set up in and around Gajwel, besides forming special teams to nab the absconding accused.
She said that eight cases have been registered in all, over the clashes.
The arrested accused were identified as Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Aqil, Mohammad Zaheer and Mohammad Qadir, of Sangapur village in Gajwel mandal, Mushnam Karunakar Goud of Burugupally, Matam Mahipal of Gouraram, Kashamaina Naveen alias Delhi, Gachubai Mahesh Goud, Mohammad Gouse and Mohammad Nayeem of Gajwel town, and Gujeti Sai Teja of Pragnapur.
Swetha said that a case was registered also against casino organiser Chikoti Praveen, who visited Gajwel town without permission and tried to take out a rally on Tuesday.
The commissioner appealed to people not to believe in rumours spread on social media. “Police keep vigil on postings of social media and cases will be registered, if anyone tries to spread hatred among people,” she said.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after his release, MLA Raghunandan Rao said that he would be going to the Gajwel court to fight for the victims. “Failure of police resulted in group clashes in Gajwel. If police would have arrested the accused, who urinated on the Shivaji statue, the situation might be under control,” he said.
The BJP MLA said that he will visit Gajwel on Thursday to call on the victims.
