Poll Violence: YSRCP-TDP clashes extend to second day; mob violence in Tadipatri, Tirupati, Palnadu

Amaravati: Clashes that erupted on polling day on Monday between the YSRCP and TDP activists continued to Tuesday in various parts of the state.

TDP Chandragiri MLA candidate injured in Tirupati

In Tirupati, minor tension prevailed for a while at the Padmavathi Mahila University after YSR Congress Party cadre allegedly attacked TDP Chandragiri MLA candidate Pulivarthi Nani.

Followers of YSRCP leader Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy allegedly attacked TDP MLA candidate Pulivarthi Nani with glass bottles, hammers and stones. The incident happened when the TDP leader visited the strong room at the university.

Nani and his security personnel sustained injuries and his vehicle was damaged by the mob. With the situation going out of control, Nani’s gunman fired his arm in the air to disperse the crowd.

Condemning the attack by the YSRCP leaders on Nani, his followers staged a demonstration at the university premises. Upon receiving information about the incident, police personnel rushed to the spot to restore normalcy at the place.

Violence in Karampudi

In another incident, the YSRCP activists allegedly attacked the Telugu Desam Party office in Karampudi village.

The TDP leaders alleged that Macherla YSRCP MLA Penneli Ramakrishna Reddy was behind the attack as he provoked the cadre to attack the TDP leaders on his way to Petasanegandla village. The YSRCP activists also reportedly attacked Karampudi CI Narayana Swamy who tried to restore normalcy at the place.

TDP workers attack YSRCP supporters

In Palnadu district, TDP workers allegedly went on a rampage in a village targeting houses of those who supported the ruling YSRCP in the just-concluded elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly, police said on Tuesday. TDP cadres stormed into Kothaganesunipadu village on Monday night and attacked people, they said.

On Tuesday, YSRCP Gurazala MLA K Mahesh Reddy visited the village to stand in solidarity with the people who were attacked. Meanwhile, Shankha Brata Bagchi, ADGP, Law & Order said the situation was under control but a few incidents were reported in Palnadu district.

“Now we will see what more needs to be done so that the situation returns to normal in the district,” said Bagchi.

The ADGP was camping in the district until 1 am on Monday night, monitoring the situation in places such as Macherla, Rentichintala and Narasaraopet which witnessed violence. Steps were being taken to arrest all those involved in the violence, he added.

Stone pelting in Tadipatri

In Tadipatri, TDP and YSRCP members pelted stones at each other which resulted in injuries to CI Muralikrishna. The YSRCP members also allegedly attacked TDP leader Suriya Mani's house. Upon knowing about the attacks, municipal chairman and TDP senior leader JC Prabhakar tried to confront YSRCP MLA Ketireddy Peddareddy with hundreds of activists. However, police stopped JC Prabhakar Reddy in time. But with the situation going out of control, the police used tear gas to disperse the TDP activists.

Naidu demands action on YSRCP activists

Following the series of attacks on TDP activists, party president N Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Director-General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta initiate stern action against the YSRCP activists for attacking the TDP leaders and creating a law and order issue in the state.

Naidu called on the DGP over the phone and appealed to him to initiate action against the YSRCP activists for creating violence in Macherla, Chandragiri and Tadipatri on Monday.

He complained to the DGP that Macherla YSRCP MLA Penneli Ramakrishna Reddy intentionally created violence after the polling. The TDP chief also asked the DGP to evolve the necessary steps to protect the law and order in the state.