: Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham withdrew his fast along with his wife Padmavati at the Rajamahendravaram Government Hospital here on Tuesday night.
But the decision of the police not to allow the three close followers of Mr. Padmanabham, who were released on bail, to proceed to the RGH led to tension outside the facility where the supporters of the Kapu leader gathered in large numbers. Mr. Padmanabham made it clear that he would return to his residence at Kirlampudi to formally call off his protest only after seeing the trio —Nalla Vishnu Murthy, Akula Ramakrishna and Vasireddi Yesudas — who were granted bail in the Tuni arson case by a Pithapuram court on Monday evening. There was high drama outside the Central Prison here in the evening after top police officials made it clear to the three that they would be allowed to go only after their leader reached Kirlampudi.
“Police officials surrounded us the moment we walked out of the prison and asked us to sit under a banyan tree,” said Akula Ramakrishna.
Police strictly enforced prohibitory orders and made announcements in the city that people should not congregate in large numbers.
Police personnel were deployed in strength all along the national highway from Rajamahendravaram to Kirlampudi. A health bulletin issued by a team of doctors led by Medical Superintendent Dr. Ramesh Kishore in the morning said the condition of the couple was stable.
