Hyderabad: Police detained several opposition leaders, activists, farmers and auto-driver representatives in Rajanna Sircilla and parts of Karimnagar district ahead of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s visit on Wednesday, amid apprehensions of protests during his public meeting.
The preventive detentions began late Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning. According to reports, around 1,600 police personnel were deployed across the Sircilla and Vemulawada constituencies, while another 550 personnel were deployed in Karimnagar city.
Several BRS leaders were picked up from their homes and taken to police stations, while some were placed under house arrest. BJP leaders and youth functionaries were also detained in different areas.
In Sircilla, BRS district president Thota Agaiah was placed under house arrest. Former sarpanches’ forum district president Matla Madhu, BRS town secretary Myana Ravi, senior leader Diddi Raju and BRSV State leader Kancharla Ravigoud were among those detained, according to reports.
Police also kept watch on workers’ colonies and warned labour leaders against carrying placards to the Chief Minister’s meeting. Youth and student leaders were reportedly prevented from reaching the venue.
The preventive action extended to several mandals. In Thangallapalli, BRS leaders including former ZPTC member Kodi Anthaiah were detained. Reports said police vehicles were insufficient to transport all those detained, prompting the use of mini trucks to take them to Thangallapalli and Illanthakunta police stations.
In Yellareddypet, BRS leaders and auto-driver union representatives were detained, while BRS and BJP leaders were picked up in Veernapalli. BRS leaders were also detained in Mustabad, while BJP youth wing president Mothkupalli Rajasekhar was detained in Chandurthi.
At Jillella, Dalit farmers protesting over land titles were detained amid concerns that they could raise their grievances during the Chief Minister’s visit. In Gambhiraopet, Deputy Sarpanch Lakkireddy Kamalakar Reddy was also detained.
In Vemulawada, several BRS and BJP councillors and former councillors were taken to police stations. Similar detentions were reported from Medipalli and other mandals. In Boinpally, BRS mandal president Katterapaka Kondaiah and other local leaders were taken to Karimnagar One Town police station.
The reported concerns behind the preventive action included possible protests over the implementation of the Six Guarantees, employment-related promises, pending bills, urea and power supply, farmers’ and auto-drivers’ issues and rehabilitation concerns of Mid Manair oustees.
BRS workers detained at Thangallapalli police station reportedly staged a protest inside the premises.
Meanwhile, an alleged voice message circulated among women's self-help group leaders asking them to attend the Chief Minister’s meeting wearing Indiramma sarees. The message reportedly referred to group-wise attendance and a proposed fine of up to Rs 500 for those absent. The authenticity and implementation of these instructions could not be independently verified.
Revanth Reddy’s September 30 visit is his first to Sircilla as Chief Minister. He is scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development works and address a public meeting in the constituency represented by BRS working president KT Rama Rao.
