Narsipatnam land encroachment: CID arrests TDP leader Ayyanna Patrudu, son; protests rock AP

Visakhapatnam, November 3: Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday arrested TDP politburo member and former minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu and his son Ch Rajesh for allegedly submitting forgery documents related to an encroachment at Narsipatnam in Anakapalle district.

The arrest has led to a series of protests from the leaders and activists of the TDP. TDP has given a bandh call in Narsipatnam.

It may be recalled that the Narsipatnam Municipal staff demolished the compound wall of the TDP leader's house claiming that it was built on encroached land.

Municipal officials reportedly issued a notice alleging that the former Minister had grabbed 2 cents of land belonging to the Irrigation Department. Barricades were put up at the 5-road junction and on the KD Peta route.

Based on the complaint from the irrigation department that the TDP leader submitted forged documents, CID personnel registered a case against the TDP leader. The CID personnel arrested the TDP leader and his son and they will produce the duo before the court.

Angry over the arrests, TDP national president and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu asked: "Is Jagan a Chief Minister or a demon?"

The former chief minister said that he was shocked to know that they (CID officials) humped walls and broke doors to arrest the leader and his son. Chandrababu said that ever since Jagan came to power, he has been harassing Ayyannapatrudu and his family members.

He said already 10 cases have been registered against Ayyannapatrudu and his family members. Chandrababu Naidu said police did not mend their ways despite the court finding fault with the CID with regard to the case registered against Ayyannapatrudu's second son Vijay.

"The state has never witnessed incidents like this wherein the police forcibly encroached into the houses like dacoits and took the residents into custody," the former chief minister said.

Chandrababu said the arrest of Ayyannapatrudu is only to stifle the voice of the Backward Classes (BCs) as he is questioning the YSRCP leaders for looting North Andhra. "Since there are no proper answers to the questions raised by Ayyannapatrudu, the Government is resorting to these arrests and the registration of false cases," he stated.

Chandrababu demanded the release of Ayyannapatrudu and his son Rajesh, forthwith and unconditionally.