VIJAYAWADA: High tension was evident following clashes between the supporters of YSR Congress and Telugu Desam at Macherla in Palnadu district on Friday.
Telugu Desam supporters, led by Macherla party in-charge Julakanti Brahma Reddy, were taking part in ‘Idhemi Karma’ programme. In between, supporters of the two parties clashed and pelted stones at each other. Several persons were injured.
The police rushed to the scene and dispersed the crowds. They shifted the injured to the local hospital. A TD leader’s office and a few vehicles were set on fire.
TD and YSR Congress leaders blamed each other for the violence.
Macherla MLA Pinnelli Rama Krishna Reddy said TD leaders “destroyed their own assets” to get political mileage.
TD state president K. Atchannaidu condemned the arrest of his party leader Brahma Reddy. He said the TD office was attacked and five cars belonging to the TD leaders were destroyed by the YSRC mob.
TD general secretary Nara Lokesh condemned the attack on his party supporters and found fault with the police for detaining the party leader Brahma Reddy. He extended the party’s help to the TD supporters injured in the clash.
Palnadu SP Ravi Sankar Reddy said, “Some persons having criminal history of faction rivalry from Veldurthi attacked their close rivals by pelting stones on them intentionally to harm them and they are also trying to politicise the issue. We have taken all those involved in the attack into custody and the situation is under control.”
