Amaravati: DGP Gautam Sawang seeks report on violence

Amaravati: Director general of police (DGP) Gautam Sawang directed the Guntur range IG to submit a detailed report on the violence that marred the election process on Wednesday in Macherla area in which two TDP leaders, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Buddha Venkanna, and a lawyer accompanying them were attacked. Reports of clashes trickled in from several districts on the last date of filing of nominations for the local body elections, police sources said.

It was alleged that YSRCP workers were involved in the attacks in which TDP, BJP and Jana Sena leaders were injured, a charge rejected by the ruling party.

The Guntur rural superintendent of police C Vijaya Rao rushed to Macherla to take stock of the situation.

The TDP alleged that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations for MPTC and ZPTC elections at many places. In Nellore district, BJP candidate B Manemma was attacked with knife as she went to file nomination for MPTC election. She along with her son-in-law, Manikantha sustained injuries and both were rushed to the government hospital in Nellore.

In Pulicherla mandal in Chittoor district too, the local BJP candidate was attacked and prevented from filing his nomination. "Where is protection for opposition parties when YSRC goons are on an attacking spree? We strongly condemn the YSRC goons' attack on our party candidates. We stand by our leaders," BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana tweeted.

BJP Rajya Sabha member G V L Narasimha Rao, while condemning the attack on his party workers in different parts, demanded that the State Election Commission intervene immediately and prevent the violence.

In Punganuru in Chittoor district, the YSRCP men allegedly tore the nomination papers of Jana Sena candidate China Rayalu. In Anantapuramu, Jana Sena Political Affairs Committee member C Madhusudan Reddy was allegedly attacked with stones.

In Tirupati rural mandal, nomination papers of TDP candidate Haripriya were torn. She, however, took a fresh set

and filed the papers with the help of police.

Incidents of clashes between YSRC and TDP men were reported from Kadapa, Kurnool and Prakasam districts.