FIRs against TDP activists after party workers clash with police in Kuppam

Kuppam: Three FIRs were registered against Telugu Desam Party activists in Gollapalli, Pedduru, and Santhipuram in the Chittoor district for obstructing the duties of the police and injuring a police constable.

According to a newly-passed GO, the state has prohibited public meetings and gatherings on roads and highways after 11 people lost their lives in two stampedes during TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu's programmes in Nellore's Kandukur and Guntur. However, only in rare and exceptional circumstances may permission for public meetings be considered.

On 4 January, the police prevented Mr. Naidu from conducting a roadshow as part of his three-day tour to Kuppam. When the police stopped TDP activists, who were in six vehicles, they fought with the police for putting up barricades.

When G. Ashok Kumar, inspector of police, Palamaner Rural circle, Chittoor district and his team deployed for VIP bandobast duty told the TDP activists that they did not have permission to hold roadshows in national and state highways, Viswanatha Naidu and his followers obstructed the duties of the police. They injured a constable and CI Thulasi Ram.

The police also took the campaign vehicle and the other vehicle carrying the sound system to the police station.

Speaking to NewsMeter, Palamaner DSP N. Sudhakar Reddy said, "We have registered FIRs in three different cases related to the attack on the police, sound system placed in campaign vehicles without permission, and attacking an SI."