TDP leaders attacked in Macharla by YSRCP members, advocate injured

Hyderabad: Former TDP MLA Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao and TDP MLC Buddha Venkanna were assaulted by a group of miscreants when they were on their way to Macharla from Vijayawada. They were going to Macharla to address issues related to TDP nominations after local leaders had alleged that YSRCP cadres have been preventing them from filing nominations.

Acting on instructions of party chief Chandrababu Naidu, both the TDP leaders had planned to visit Macharla on 11 March. However, a group of miscreants who claimed to be YSRCP supporters pelted stones at their vehicles. The leaders said they have lodged a complaint with the Macharla police station about the incident. “The YSRCP activists assaulted us and our advocate Kishore was injured in the attack,” Bonda Uma said, adding the miscreants had also attacked the DSP with sticks and pelted stones at a police vehicle. “Our life was at risk and we felt threatened,” he said.

Meanwhile, MLC Buddha Venkanna alleged that the police leaked their tour information to the YSRCP cadres. However, Macharla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that the vehicles of the TDP leaders had hit a boy which had angered the local people. He said it has become a habit for TDP leaders to showcase their strength by travelling in several vehicles and recalled that in 2014 TDP leaders and cadres had attacked YSRCP leaders Ambati Rambabu and Mustafa in the Palnadu area. “They even attacked my vehicle at Guntur and assaulted me,” he added.