Cops play spoilsport to Opposition leaders

Hyderabad: Police foiled the Opposition party leaders attempt to join 'Chalo Tank Bund' protest by RTC JAC on Saturday. Many leaders were under house arrest and some were taken into preventive custody while they were on their way to dharna venue.

Anticipating trouble, police swung into action and arrested leaders from early morning hours.

Congress senior leaders Mohammed Shabbir Ali, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponnam Prabhakar, Geetha Reddy and Ponnala Laxmaiah were under house arrest and police kept a strict vigil at their residences to keep a tab on their movements. Vikramarka alleged that the State was witnessing anarchic rule.

He said the State government snatched away the basic rights of the people. The detention of leaders by the State government was never seen in the entire country, he added.

In a high drama, police swooped down on the residence of BJP State unit president K Laxman and kept him under house arrest all day. Another BJP leader and former Minister D K Aruna, who was leaving for the event by car was stopped by the police who placed her under house arrest at her Jubilee Hills residence.

Aruna lashed out against Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and termed his rule as dictatorial. The use of police forces to curtail the movement of the opposition leaders was undemocratic and uncalled, she said.

Several leaders were placed under house arrest or preventive custody by the police till evening hours. Police also foiled left parties and other social and civil organisations attempt to take up rally towards Tank Bund and took them into preventive

custody.