Ahead of Panchayat elections TDP spokesperson Pattabhi escapes 2nd attack

Vijayawada: A group of unidentified persons attacked TDP leader and spokesperson Pattabhi Ram near his residence in Vijayawada city on 2 February. The injured Pattabhi was admitted to a private hospital in the city. He alleged that YSRCP workers are behind the attack.

The miscreants attacked the TDP leader with rods and sticks and smashed his car and cellphone. This is the second attack on Pattabhi in two months.

Meanwhile, Pattabhi said he said he had been receiving threatening calls for a week and alleged the YSRCP party workers had attacked him for exposing government corruption. He also alleged that there was a conspiracy to assassinate him and said the police had not taken any action against those who had attacked him six months ago.

Exhorting the DGP, Gautham Sawang, and the commissioner of Vijayawada police to respond to the incident, the TDP leader said he would sit on the road until justice is assured. He claimed that the recent attack was due to the negligence of the police and demanded the police conduct an honest investigation.

Former Chief Minister and TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu visited Pattabhai and condemned the violence. Meanwhile, the police said they have gathered CCTV footage and are working to identify the miscreants.

Meanwhile, TDP leader K Atchannaidu was arrested for threatening rebel candidate in Srikakulam. Atchannaidu and twelve others were taken into custody for preventing rebel candidate Kinjarapu Appanna from filing nomination for Gram Panchayat elections at Nimmada Panchayat in Srikakulam district.

Police said that Atchannaidu and few others allegedly threatened Appanna over the phone.

The arrest of Atchannaidu led to protest from TDP activists. The activists raised slogans against the YSRC government. A tense atmosphere prevailed at Nimmada village in Srikakulam district following the arrest of Atchannaidu and the proposed visit of YSRC leader and member of Rajya Sabha V Vijaya Sai Reddy on Tuesday.

Anticipating untoward incidents, police have deployed huge number of personnel at Nimmada and Kotabommali in Srikakulam district.

The YSRC leaders said that Atchannaidu called his nephew Appanna and asked him not to file a nomination. However, Appanna refused to withdraw citing that his wife lost her government job during the TDP regime and their family didn't get any benefits from TDP.

When Appanna decided to file the nomination, TDP activists and followers of Atchannaidu rushed to his residence at Nimmada and prevented him from visiting the election office.

There was a commotion at Appanna's residence on Sunday and both YSRC and TDP activists almost came to blows.

Appanna finally filed the nomination with the police escort.