Gannavaram violence: Andhra Pradesh police register cases against TDP leaders

GANNAVARAM: The police have registered cases against Donthu Chinna, Donthu Rani, Pattabhi, Bode Prasad and 30 others of the opposition party under various sections in connection with Monday’s incidents at the Gannavaram party office. The TDP leaders were charged with an attempt to murder and under the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.

The cases were registered based on complaints lodged by the YSRCP leaders. The cases were registered under sections 143, 147, 341, 333, 353, 307, 448, 143, 147, 506, 509 r/w 149. The cases under sections 353, 143, 147 and 149.

The TDP leaders called for a Chalo Gannavaram protest, resenting what they alleged foisting of illegal cases. However, the police have tightened security to prevent people from other areas from entering into Gannavaram and kept a few TDP leaders under house arrest across Krishna and Guntur districts. The police have also arrested TDP women wing leaders and shifted them to Machilipatnam and imposed sections 144 and 30 in the vicinity of Gannavaram.

Meanwhile, Krishna district SP Joshua has briefed the media on the rioting incident in the Gannavaram constituency on Monday and warned of severe actions against those who create disturbance to the law and order in the constituency. The SP blamed TDP official spokesperson Pattabhi for causing the riots with his irresponsible comments, which resulted in an attack on the Gannavaram Circle Inspector Kanaka Rao. He said that Pattabhi's provocative remarks had disrupted peace and harmony in the constituency and made clear that they were retrieving the CCTV footage to identify the culprits.

Stating that non-bailable cases had been registered against the perpetrators of violence, the SP said that strict action would be taken against anyone who violated the law. Joshua clarified that there was no permission for any sort of meetings and rallies in Gannavaram and urged the political leaders to refrain from making provocative comments and the media to not telecast such inflammatory content. He sought their cooperation with the police in maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, TDP leader Pattabhi's wife reportedly sat on a fast at her residence demanding a statement from the police on the whereabouts of her husband. She slammed the YSRCP Government for not giving her any information about Pattabhi. Claiming that her husband was arrested on Monday, she reportedly sat on a protest at her residence demanding his immediate release. She first warned of staging a protest outside the Andhra Pradesh DGP’s office but later reportedly decided against it and instead sat on a protest at her residence.