A scuffle between the activists of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) during a ‘Praja Patham' meeting at Ramakrishnapuram led to involvement of police on Thursday. The police took into custody 11 activists of the CPI (M) and took them to the Satyanarayanapuram police station, where other activists of the party staged a dharna demanding release of their colleagues and seeking action against the Congress activists.
The trouble began when the activists of the CPI (M) interrupted the speech of Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu. Over half-a-dozen activists surrounded the MLA with their representations and questioned the delay in completing the construction of houses meant for the poor in 53{+r}{+d} division.
As Mr. Vishnu lost his cool, the Congress activists picked up an altercation with CPI (M) activists that led to a scuffle between the two groups. Following a complaint lodged by Congress activists, the Satyanarayanapuram intervened and took the activists of the CPI (M) into custody.
CPI (M) leaders, accompanied by leaders of the CPI and the Telugu Desam Party, staged a dharna in front of the police station, finding fault with the police for not taking any action against the Congress activists.
They withdrew the agitation only after an assurance was given by the police that cases would be registered against the Congress activists who were responsible for the scuffle.