3 Kidnapped TDP Polling Agents Rescued In Andhra Amid Simultaneous Lok Sabha, Assembly Elections

Andhra Pradesh Polls: Three TDP polling agents who were allegedly kidnapped in Chittoor district have been traced and secured.

Andhra Pradesh Polls: Three TDP polling agents who were allegedly kidnapped in Chittoor district have been traced and secured. ( Image Source :PTI )

Andhra Pradesh Polls: Amid simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Monday said three TDP polling agents who were allegedly kidnapped in Chittoor district have been traced and secured. The TDP agents were kidnapped from Bokaramanda village in Chittoor district's Sadum mandal, which falls under the Punganuru Assembly constituency, press release from the CEO's office said.

"TDP district in-charge Jagan Mohan Raju complained that TDP agents belonging to polling stations 188, 189 and 199 were kidnapped by YSRCP leaders while going to the polling stations," said Meena, as quoted by news agency PTI.

According to the CEO, Chittoor district poll officials and the Police department were quick to respond. They rescued the kidnapped agents from Pileru and later enabled them to attend to their duties, PTI reported. Further, Meena observed that a probe is underway to identify the kidnappers. Simultaneous polls for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats are underway in Andhra Pradesh today.

Meanwhile, the TDP and YSRCP traded violence allegations against each other's supporters and cadres at multiple locations in the state, especially in Palnadu, Kadapa, and Annamayya districts, as reported by PTI. The TDP alleged that YSRCP activists damaged three vehicles belonging to its Narasaraopeta Lok Sabha candidate L Sri Krishna Devarayalu.

Speaking to reporters, Devarayalu appealed to the poll body to rein in the people responsible for the attack. He said that he is prepared to lodge a case over this incident and also insisted for repolling at the Dondapadu polling booth, as reported by PTI.

A police official said that an EVM was destroyed at Dalavaipalli village in Railway Kodur constituency, PTI reported. He also said that cars belonging to the ruling party and TDP were damaged. A TDP agent was attacked at Nakkaladinne village in Myduruku constituency, leading to his hospitalisation.

The YSRCP alleged that party agent Suresh Reddy was stabbed at Mandi Krishnapuram village in Chittoor's Gudipala mandal. TDP activists allegedly damaged the vehicle of senior YSRCP leader Nandigam Suresh, YSRCP said in a statement.

Further, it alleged that TDP supporters attacked party member B Anji Reddy at Aravallipadu in Darsi constituency, resulting in a head injury.