ADILABAD: Security was beefed up for IT Minister and working president of TRS party KT Rama Rao following “information that some action teams of Maoist have entered Telangana,” especially into erstwhile Adilabad district and that the Opposition might stage protests against the minister.
The Maoists issued letters warning some TRS MLAs of dire consequences for the “cheating” they did on the state’s unemployed youth by not fulfilling the promise of providing them jobs.
Police constables of other districts were also drawn in and deployed for the security of the KTR’s programmes in Adilabad. Heavy police deployment was evident also after intelligence input that opposition parties may stage flash protests and block KTR’s convoy.
During the minister’s visit to Adilabad on September 26, top police officials supervised his security alongside his usual security cover. The police did not allow crowds to get close to the minister though some youths wanted to take selfies and photographs. Only a select few known persons were allowed to go near him.
Security police seized two batteries that were used for lighting the Gussadi caps made of peacock feathers by adivasi artists, who were fielded to welcome the minister. The police kept a watch against electronic batteries and did not allow electronic gadgets inside so as to avoid incidents.
Maoists use electronic batteries for blasting explosives, as they did also in the attack on former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri and former home minister the late Madhava Reddy near Bhuvanagiri in the past.
Security personnel also disallowed dummy guns at the minister’s event. Adivasi artists carry dummy guns made of wood as part of their dance performances during their traditional festivals. Security personnel who seized such guns later returned them to the adivasis.
Adivasi Gussadi artist Kumram Shankar from Ratnapura village of Talamadugu mandal, who was in the Gussadi dance troupe that welcomed the minister, said the security seized two electronic batteries and two dummy guns made of wood that looked like real guns. The police returned these only after completion of the programme and KTR left the venue.
