TIRUPATI: Mudiveedu police on Wednesday booked Telugu Desam national president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as accused number 1 in an attempt to murder case filed against him following violence that broke out at a meeting addressed by Naidu at Three Roads Junction near Angallu in Annamayya district on August 4.
The charges listed in the FIR under several sections of the Indian Penal Code include criminal conspiracy (IPC 120b), rioting (IPC 147), armed with a deadly weapon (IPC 148), incitement to cause riot (IPC 153), attempt to murder (IPC 307) and unlawful assembly (IPC 149).
While Naidu has been listed as A1, former ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Amarnath Reddy are A2 and A3. Cases have been registered against 18 others, including TD leaders Ram Bhopal Reddy, Shajahan Basha, Dommalapati Ramesh, Nallari Kishore Kumar Reddy and Ganta Narahari.
Annamayya district superintendent of police R. Gangadhar Rao said the case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Angallu Market Committee chairman Dr Umapathi Reddy.
According to the FIR, a group of YSR Congress (YSRC) leaders attempted to meet Naidu to discuss withdrawal of cases related to a local issue. However, they were allegedly attacked by TD supporters wielding sticks, stones, sickles and other objects. The complainant claimed Naidu's inflammatory words had incited his cadre.
The TD rally on August 4 had resulted in violent clashes not only in Angallu but also in Punganur, leading to 50 police personnel and supporters of both opposition TD and ruling YSRC getting injured. Among the seriously injured are 13 police officers, including Armed Reserve (AR) constable Ranadheer, who has permanently lost vision in one eye. The injured are currently receiving treatment at the Chittoor Government Hospital.
Police have also separately filed a case against the TD chief for allegedly making provocative statements during the Punganur roadshow, based on a complaint by YSRC activist Chand Basha. In this case, Naidu is accused number 7. Punganur TD in-charge Challa Babu is A1 in the case. Challa Babu has not yet been taken into custody.
Police have, however, detained Govardhan Reddy, the personal assistant of Challa Babu. It is stated police have obtained a confessional statement from Govardhan Reddy, attributing the responsibility for violence to TD leadership.
