BRS Leader’s Role in Lagcharla Incident Established After Two Days of Grilling

Hyderabad: Former BRS legislator Patnam Narender Reddy allegedly influenced his close associate B. Suresh to provoke villagers at Lagcharla, which led to the attack on Vikarabad district collector Prateek Jain and revenue officers during a public hearing on land acquisition on November 11.

This was gathered at the conclusion of Reddy’s two-day police custody and interrogation on Monday. The former MLA was subsequently produced before the court. Police officials said that they would file another petition seeking to extend his police custody for further questioning.

Vikarabad police questioned Reddy in connection with the incident and aspects like provoking villagers, phone conversations, and providing financial assistance to create law and order problems at Lagcharla.

Sources said that the BRS leader reportedly monitored the situation on coming to know that revenue officials were to conduct a public hearing. He played a key role in the entire incident and was in touch with four villagers.

The police also questioned him about calls to Suresh, who had urged the collector to visit Lagcharla. It was reported that Reddy was elusive about answering questions pertaining to financial assistance and the involvement of political leaders.

The police reportedly unlocked Reddy’s phone in his presence and verified digital payments and other transactions. The police reportedly established that Narender Reddy made calls to several BRS leaders in Hyderabad and also conference calls to other accused, who have since been arrested.