The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Bholakpur: a seething cauldron of anger

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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Bholakpur: a seething cauldron of anger

Staff Reporter

Crowds chase Secunderabad MP forcing him to seek protection behind a TV news channel’s vehicle

Shameful: Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav being mobbed by angry residents of Bholakpur.

HYDERABAD: From an eight-year-old child to 80-year-old citizen, almost every resident of the area spewed fire at the official machinery and the public representatives on Tuesday holding them responsible for the five deaths due to consumption of contaminated water. Cauldron

So furious were the people that they surrounded Secunderabad MP, Anjan Kumar Yadav, who arrived there accompanied by his local supporters to take stock of the situation. Even as the MP asked them what were the problems the area had faced, some raised slogans, few pushed him around and some started abusing him.

“Drink this water and you will know our problems,” shouted someone thrusting a plastic bottle with dark coloured water into his face. Realising that the mob was going out of control, he started walking towards his vehicle but the agitating crowd ran after him and chased him forcing him to seek protection behind a TV news channel’s vehicle. The baton-wielding policemen rushed to the spot and sent the MP away from the place safely.

--PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Residents staging a protest before GHMC officials on Tuesday.

The Musheerabad MLA Manemma Anjaiah could not even get off her vehicle apparently worried of similar backlash from the locals. She quietly left the place without meeting the public who were seething with anger. No official of the Water Works could be seen anywhere as scores of youths went around the streets taking out processions raising slogans against the government.

As news about the death of five persons - four on Tuesday and one on Monday - spread in the locality, tempers ran high with agitators coming onto the main road and halting the traffic. While a group of about 200 persons went in procession to Gandhi hospital alleging that government’s irresponsibility killed their beloved ones, tension prevailed in Bholakpur, Indiranagar, Siddiquinagar and Bangladesh with youngsters moving in groups and raising anti-officials slogans.

They forcibly closed all shops in the area in the evening protesting ‘inaction of the government’. Sensing danger, higher-ups rushed the entire Central Zone police force to Bholakpur and posted pickets at sensitive points. The DCP Hari Kumar personally oversaw the security arrangements standing at the junctions.

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