Tirupati: Tension flared in Punganur assembly constituency of Chittoor district as supporters of minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and activists of Bharata Chaitanya Yuvajana (BCY) Party came face to face at Somala police station late on Thursday night.
Trouble began when BCY activists were distributing pamphlets of their Rythu Bheri programme scheduled on Friday at the Sadum mandal headquarters. Ramachandra Reddy's followers objected saying the pamphlet refers to the minister in a derogatory manner.
The disagreement escalated into a heated altercation between the two groups.
Around midnight, police took into custody approximately 15 BCY activists, including women, and brought them to the Somala police station. BCY party founder president Bode Ramachandra Yadav arrived and questioned police over detention of women activists at the police station past midnight.
In the interim, YSRC supporters arrived, leading to both groups raising slogans. The situation came under control after the release of detained women activists.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Ramachandra Yadav accused the police department of functioning as per diktats of Minister Peddireddy. He claimed that despite court orders directing police to grant necessary permission for holding the Rythu Bheri programme, local police have refused to do so, citing potential law and order issues.
Ramachandra Yadav alleged that while opposition leaders are being detained, YSRC has enlisted a 200-member private army, which is roaming freely. The BCY leader said police are turning a blind eye to the doings of ruling party's private army.
Ramachandra Yadav said they would approach the court again and proceed with the Rythu Bheri programme to highlight the injustices being faced by dairy and mango farmers in Punganur constituency.
He alleged that these farmers are being compelled to sell their produce at low prices to dairy and pulp units owned by the local minister.
