With tension mounting on the Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border after the arrest of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in Nanded, the Maharashtra government on Monday decided to shift him to another jail. Mr. Naidu and 65 of his supporters will be moved to a prison in Aurangabad on Tuesday, said Shaji Umap, Additional Superintendent of Police, Nanded.
On Saturday, Mr. Naidu had been arrested and taken into judicial custody for two days and housed in the Industrial Training Institute in Dharmabad village, which has been declared a jail by the Maharashtra government.
On Sunday, the situation turned violent with cases of stone throwing being reported in which four policemen were injured. The storm over his visit to the disputed Babli site has intensified with leaders across party lines stalling the proceedings of both the Houses of the Maharashtra legislature.
Standing his ground, the TDP leader has refused to accept bail and is insisting on visiting Babli with a convoy of media persons. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan held a high level meeting on Monday. Since Mr. Naidu has refused to accept bail, he will be in magisterial custody till July 26, Mr. Chavan said, adding that the law would take its own course.
Responding to a question, he said that Mr. Naidu would not be allowed to visit the Babli barrage.
There is no question of taking action since the matter is in court, said Mr. Chavan.
Adilabad Staff Reporter adds: All the TDP members undertook a fast on Monday protesting the shoddy treatment given by the Maharashtra police.
They refused to partake the snacks offered by the police at the ITI building at Dharmabad.
Quoting Mr. Naidu, Mr. Prasad said the TDP leaders refused to eat saying they could not do so as people in their State were on a hartal. Even the six MLAs who had reported ill health did not consume any food, he pointed out.
