Dubbaka BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao was detained by Telangana police at Alwal while he was on his way to Gajwel to meet the people who were injured in clashes over defiling a statue of Chatrapathi Shivaji. Police took the MLA into custody near the Hakimpet Air Force Station and shifted him to the Alwal police station.
"Dubbaka MLA Raghunandan Rao has been taken into custody and is being held at Alwal police station. It is a preventive arrest," said Inspector Upender Rao of the Alwal police station.
Communal clashes were reported in Gajwel town of Telangana's Siddipet district for the last two days after a man allegedly urinated near a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Monday.
The man, a local resident, was caught urinating near the statue on Monday evening. The crowd thrashed him, paraded him, and handed him over to the police. The incident led to a clash between groups from different communities, resulting in one person getting injured.
The police assured the protesters that they would take immediate action against those found involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Eatala Rajender condemned the arrest of Raghunandan Rao and criticised the police for showing bias towards the ruling party.
Earlier, Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjedullah Khan Khalid alleged that the local police were mute spectators to the incident. He urged the Director General of Police and Siddipet Commissioner to order an inquiry while also demanding security for the minority community.