Tirupati: Tension prevailed in Ongole and Tirupati when police arrested YSR Congress and other opposition party activists while taking part in demonstrations demanding special status on Thursday.
As many as 70 YSR Congress leaders including YSRC General Secretary Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, YSRC senior legislator Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, MP Peddyreddy Midhun Reddy and Chandragiri legislator Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy apart from Karunakar Reddy son Abhinaya Reddy were arrested on Thursday to prevent them from taking part in protests and rallies for special category status at Tirupati.
Some of them were detained while taking part in protests as well as in candle light rallies on Thursday night. The police chased and arrested students when they were taking out a rally on Thursday morning.
They have put Mr Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy under house arrest.
Students unions affiliated to various left parties and other opposition parties were held when they turned up to participate in the protest near SV University. The police stations were full to their brim with the youth and YSRC functionaries detained by police from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Leaders of YSR Congress came down heavily against the arrests alleging that it is undemocratic. Mr Peddireddy Ramachand-ra Reddy alleged that the government using police as tools and rebuked the police officers for acting as ruling party agents.
Meanwhile police held YSR Congress leaders including Markapuram legislator Janke Venkata Reddy and kept YSRC senior leader Battula Brahmananda Reddy under house arrest.
Students hold protests in East Godavari
Protests erupted in East Godavari on Thursday demanding special category status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh. Student organisations, Jana Sena, Congress, YSRC and CPM separately took out agitations.
The police lathicharged students at the Godarigunta area, when the protesters gheraoed the cops. Rampachodavaram MLA Vanthala Rajeswara is also among the arrested persons in the agitation.
According to sources, students of different colleges and DYFI activists started their protest at the Godarigunta area. They planned to reach Kakinada Beach and staged roadblock in the area.
Meanwhile, a police team, led by Kakinada DSP S. Venkateswara Rao, reached the spot and tried to disperse them. In the course of the police action, the students encircled them, following which the cops lathicharged them.
DYFI leader T. Kranthi was injured severely in the process. Meanwhile, DCC president Pantham Venkateswara Rao (Nanaji) unfurled the national flag at Congress office and launched a procession at Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhinagar Park.
The police arrested him and other Congress activists. In the night, YSRC district president Kurasala Kannababu and Rampachodavaram MLA Ms. Vanthada Rajeswari tried to take out a candle rally near Nagammalilthota.
The police foiled their attempt and took them to Three Town police station, where YSR activists staged an agitation. YSRC leaders such as Ch. Sunil, Jakkampudi Vijayalakshmi, Pinepe Viswaroop, Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna and others were among the arrested. Kannababu expressed his anger over the police and said the undemocratic rule is going on in the state.
Meanwhile, the police counseled nearly 450 students in the district, asking them not to participate in any agitation that could mar their future, as the police would book case against them as per law.
According to police officials, 20 Jana Sena activists and 13 Congress activists were held in various places such as Prathipadu, Kakinada, Tuni, Amalapuram and Peddapuram.
