Gajwel, the constituency represented by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, witnessed tension since Monday morning, with large number of police putting up check posts to arrest Opposition leaders scheduled to visit Erravalli and Vemulaghat — two villages that are likely to be submerged by the Mallannasagar reservoir — and Opposition leaders sneaking in.
On Sunday, as villagers of Vemulghat attempted to block roads, they were stopped by the police. Later, residents of Erravelli began their journey saying they would stage a dharna on the highway.
As some villagers started throwing stones, the police resorted to lathi charge and fired in the air. About 20 persons, including women, were injured.
Almost all routes leading to the villages were cordoned off by police on Monday. They did not allow outsiders without ascertaining the identity and purpose of the visit — even the media was not exempted. The bandh call given by Opposition parties — the TDP, the Congress, the CPI (M), the CPI and the BJP — got a good response with buses going off the roads till 11 a.m. and shops and establishments closed till afternoon. Even the surrounding areas of Gajwel witnessed a partial bandh. At Siddipet, TRS and Opposition activists clashed with one another over the bandh.
Police arrested Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M. Kodandaram at Ontimamadi near Mulugu. After taking him to three or four police stations, police detained him at IDA Bollaram station till afternoon.
TDP leader gives the slipPolice planned to arrest Telangana Telugu Desam Party (TTDP) working president A. Revanth Reddy but he slipped the police dragnet and reached Gajwel by bus. He was arrested along with BJP leader M. Raghunandan Rao and shifted to Dundigal police station where he was detained till the evening.
Congress leaders C. Damodar Rajanarasimha, V. Suntiha Laksma Reddy, A. Dayakar and others were arrested at Gajwel, followed by Ponnam Prabahkar at Siddipet.
Revolutionary singer Vimalakka was arrested at Kukunoorpally and shifted to the Jagadevpur police station. Despite heavy checking, CPI (M) leader Tammineni Veerabhadram, CPI leader Pasya Padma and retired judge Chandra Kumar reached Vemulaghat and extended their support to the ongoing agitation.
Even after being beaten up by police on Sunday, a large number of women participated in a relay fast on the 51st day of Vemulaghat agitation. They held a rally and burnt the effigies of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and raised slogans against them. It seemed as if the police cane charge on Sunday had brought the land oustees closer.
