GUNTUR: Followers of excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana went on a rampage at his native village Nizampatnam, and at Repalle, on Thursday, following his arrest by the CBI in Hyderabad in connection with Jagan illegal assets case. Venkata Ramana represents Repalle Assembly constituency in Guntur district.As many as 10 APSRTC buses were damaged and one set on fire. Repalle police took 30 persons, including the minister’s brother Haranadh, into their custody and shifted them to Guntur. Bapatla DSP V Bhaskar and Repalle SI AV Brahmam were injured when they tried to control the mob which attacked government offices.According to reports, the agitators attacked the MPDO, sub-registrar and thasildar offices and burnt important files. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were imposed in Repalle town after the police officers were injured. Guntur rural SP J Satynarayana rushed additional forces to Repalle. Though the situation is tense, it is under control, he said.As soon as the minister was arrested, the business community closed shops and observed a bandh. Some agitators attacked petrol pumps that were kept open. They also tried to set them ablaze at two places. Four mediapersons were attacked by the agitators and their cameras were damaged.RTC authorities suspended some services from Repalle dept following the attacks on buses. Hundreds of the minister’s followers raised slogans against CBI, Congress high command and the state government. “The Congress is targeting ministers belonging to weaker sections,” alleged Prasadam Vasudev, Nizampatnam exMPP and a close aide of the minister. It is said police failed to take precautionary measures though intelligence reports had warned the district administration two days ago.
Comments
0 comment