Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Naidu under house arrest, victims evicted from Guntur camp

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AMARAVATI: Tension gripped Andhra Pradesh capital Amaravati and other parts of Guntur district on Wednesday as former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was placed under house while police evicted victims of alleged attacks by the ruling YSRCP from a TDP camp.


The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President was kept under house arrest in Amaravati while scores of party leaders and activists heading towards Guntur town for a protest march were arrested by the police.


Police did not allow Naidu to come out of his house at Undavalli as he was about to leave for Guntur town to lead the ‘Chalo Atamakur’ stir.


Tension prevailed around Naidu’s house as TDP leaders coming to meet him were prevented from entering the house. Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh, who came out of the house, lodged his protest over the police action.


The police later locked the main gate of Naidu’s house from outside after he tried to come out in his car. Naidu, who sat on in his car for half an hour, condemned the police action. “Today is the dark day for democracy,” he told reporters.


The TDP chief alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is murdering the democracy by resorting to house arrest and arrests of TDP leaders who wanted to participate in a peaceful rally. Naidu is observing day-long fast at his house to protest the attacks by the YSRCP and indiscriminate arrests of TDP leaders and workers.


Director General of Police Gautam Sawang said Naidu, who is also the Leader of Opposition, was taken into preventive custody as his actions are increasing tension and creating disturbances in Palnadu region of Guntur. The police chief clarified that he was not taken into preventive custody for fighting against the government policies.


Police have clamped prohibitory orders in the faction-ridden Palnadu region of Guntur to prevent any showdown as the YSRCP had also called for a counter-protest march.


TDP leaders and workers heading to Naidu’s house and also to Guntur were stopped at different points and arrested.


Tension prevailed in Guntur town as additional police forces were deployed to foil the TDP’s march planned to begin from the camp set up by the party for victims of attacks by the ruling party leaders.


Meanwhile, the police late on Wednesday afternoon evicted all 165 victims from the camp and sent them back to their villages with police escort. — IANS


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