Andhra Pradesh: 20 Cops Among Many Injured In Stone Pelting At Chandrababu Naidu's Chittoor Rally
Thirteen of the policemen were severely injured and are undergoing treatment at the Chittoor town government hospital.
At least 20 police personnel and several supporters of the TDP and the ruling YSRCP sustained injuries after stone pelting and arson broke out during N Chandrababu Naidu's tour of Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor on Friday, police said, as reported by the news agency PTI. Thirteen of the policemen were severely injured and are undergoing treatment at the Chittoor town government hospital.
"The rest of the policemen (seven) are doing fine but were injured by the stones hurled at them. The situation is under control now, and I think we don't need to go for (imposing prohibitory orders under) CrPc 144 Section as of now," Chittoor district superintendent of police Y Rishant Reddy told PTI late in the night. Police have started registering cases, however, no arrests have been made so far.
Naidu is on a ‘Yudha Bheri’ tour, which is a 2,500-km tour from Nandikotkur to Pathapatnam, to highlight the failure of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in completing irrigation projects in various districts that were started by him when he was the chief minister.
According to the SP, the altercation started following alleged derogatory remarks by Naidu during a rally at Mulakalacheruvu in Annamayya district, where he called Thamballapalle MLA Peddireddi Dwarakanatha Reddy a "Ravan," PTI reported. The supporters of the ruling party reacted to these remarks and blocked the way to Angallu in Chittoor, where Naidu was heading. This allegedly led to stone-pelting by TDP cadres, in which several supporters from either side were injured, said Reddy, the news agency reported.
"The incident of fierce stone pelting was reported on the way to Punganur, where over 20 police personnel were attacked, including the DSP," he said, as quoted by PTI. The police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the crowd, the official said.
To avoid further law and order problems at Naidu’s next rally scheduled at Punganur, police barricaded the town’s entrance and diverted the roadshow via bypass road. TDP cadres waiting for Naidu’s arrival there allegedly attacked the police and burned a bus and a vajra vehicle (water cannon). Police fired teargas shells to disperse the agitators, Reddy said.
Meanwhile, Naidu condemned the alleged attacks by YSRCP leaders on TDP activists. "The state will remain in peace only if such persons are sent to jail. If you come with a stick, we will face you with several sticks," Naidu said, as quoted by PTI. There were some YSRCP workers at that meeting, waving black flags, which prompted Naidu to tell them that no power on earth could threaten him.
However, when the TDP leader was proceeding towards Angallu village, some YSRCP supporters allegedly tried to attack those who were present there, as reported by PTI. Naidu then warned the ruling party leaders of serious consequences if such violence continued.
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