A day after the high drama over the protest by Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and a good number of youth of the community against the arrest of seven persons in connection with the Tuni arson cases, an uneasy calm prevailed in East Godavari district in general and Kirlampudi town in particular on Wednesday.
Mr. Padmanabham announced in the evening that he was going to sit on indefinite hunger strike at his residence in Kirlampudi from 9 a.m. on Thursday. His main demands are release of the seven and lifting of cases against the others who are facing police investigation.
Leaders of the Kapu community from East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts called on Mr. Padmanabham and expressed their solidarity. He appealed to the leaders not to participate in the hunger strike.
“When I staged hunger strike in February, the State government promised that no cases would be booked against anyone involved in the agitation that took place as part of Kapu Aikya Garjana at Tuni on January 31. But, now the CID registered cases against seven innocent youngsters and police inquiries are going on at the houses of the others,” he said, accusing the government of deceiving the Kapu community for one more time. “I have made it clear time and again that I am solely responsible for the entire agitation — be it torching the Ratnachal Express or that of the police stations, the police can arrest me alone and register cases under the Sections applicable,” he said. The Kapu leader said he would not apply for bail in the event of his arrest, but continue the protest in the jail.
Additional forces
for Kirlampudi
Heavy police deployment was made at Mr. Padmanabham’s residence and additional forces are expected to be deployed in the town. He spent the day meeting people coming from different places and answering phone calls. He maintained that the seven accused could be freed if the government issued special orders. “The government is trying to suppress the Kapu movement by creating panic among the community. After all, we are fighting for BC status, which is our right and also a promise made by the Telugu Desam Party prior to the general elections,” Mr. Padmanabham said.
Speaking to reporters at Amalapuram, Home Minister N. Chinarajappa indicated that some more arrests would be made in connection with the arson cases. He said all the arrested were history-sheeters. “The government assured Mr. Padmanabham that no cases would be booked against the innocents. Even now, cases are being booked against the history-sheeters involved in the offence. Some more arrests will be made very soon and the police will arrest Mr. Padmanabham too when the time comes,” he said.
