Continuing the restrictions on Mallannasagar villages, the district police have arrested Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader K. Jana Reddy and Congress Legislative Council leader Shabbir Ali at Ontimamidi, on the borders of Medak district on Friday morning.
After moving to different police stations, they were finally shifted to IDA Bollaram Police Station and asked to return to Hyderabad. Both the leaders were proceeding towards Mallannasagar villages to interact with the people who were injured in the police lathicharge on July 24.
Protesting over the arrest, both the leaders commenced dharna at the police station demanding they should be allowed to visit the villages or else they would not leave the station. Congress leaders were reaching the police station in support of their leaders till the last reports came in. As part of the protest, an effigy of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was burnt by the Congress activists.
HC permission
In a related development, the High Court has accorded permission to former deputy chief minister C. Damodar Rajanarasimha and District Congress Committee (DCC) president V. Sunitha Lakahma Reddy to visit Mallannasagar villages along with four more persons each. Earlier on July 25, the police arrested TDP working president A. Revanth Reddy, Congress leaders Damodar Rajanarasimha and Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, BJP leader M. Raghunandana Rao and Ch. Ramachandra Reddy. Similarly, on the next day, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Sabitha Indira Reddy and D.K. Aruna were arrested when they took up ‘Chalo Mallannasgar’ programme.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Hindu , Ms Sunitha said that they plan to visit Mallannasgar villages on Saturday. However, as the court has directed the Congress leaders to give 24-hour advance notice to the Superintendent of Police, Medak, their visit may be fixed on Sunday.
