Agnipath Protest: Andhra Pradesh Police Arrest Accused In Secunderabad Station Violence

Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday arrested an ex-Armyman in connection with Secunderabad railway station violence in over the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme

Agnipath protest.

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday arrested an ex-Armyman in connection with Secunderabad railway station violence in over the 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme, the police said. In the violence, reportedly instigated by Avula Subba Rao, an ex-Armyman, one person was killed when police opened fire to disperse the mob.

Rao played a crucial role in creating unrest and mob's indulging in vandalism in Secunderabad on Friday as he created a WhatsApp groups to mobilise people, said an NDTV report.

A 19-year-old youth was killed while several other protesters were injured as police opened fire when an angry mob agitated and set railway coaches ablaze at the railway station.

For the past few years, Rao has been running training academies for the army aspirants in nine towns and cities including Hyderabad. He was nabbed by Andhra police on Saturday.  

After the protesters went on a rampage at the Secunderabad railway station, setting afire two trains and vandalising the station, police had to open fire to control the agitating crowd. The injured were taken to Gandhi Hospital for treatment.

As per reports, the protesters pelted stones at police, who retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas shells. They also set fire to the bogies of another train at the station, apart from stalls, display boards, and other properties in the railway station while shouting anti-government slogans.