Mudragada march unlikely as police seal Ravulapalem

Rajamahendravaram: Kapu Satyagraha Padayatra, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, is unlikely to go ahead as police placed Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham as well as Kapu JAC leaders under house arrest.

A large number of police personnel was deployed at the residence of Mudragada in Kirlampudi village. More than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in Kirlampudi mandal alone.

Additional forces were summoned not only from the 13 districts of the State, but also from the neighbouring State of Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters at his residence in Kirlampudi on Monday evening, Mudragada termed his house arrest as a “dictatorial”.

Stating that the government is not taking any steps against agitations for special category status, he lamented that government is crushing the Kapu agitation.

He dared the government to arrest him if the cases booked against him were found to be true as the TDP is in power.

He recalled that Justice Manjunath Commission was supposed to submit its report by August, 2016 and added that even the Ministers who met him in the past assured steps to provide reservations for Kapus.

He expressed anguish that Kapu community is being humiliated and lamented that some leaders are using filthy language on Kapu agitation.

When the government will set him free, he declared that he would take up Kapu Satyagraha Yatra.

Meanwhile, the police have set up pickets at various entrances to Konaseema including at Siddhantham Bridge, Jonnada Bridge, Bodasakurru Bridge, Yedurlanka village and Muktheswaram.

Konaseema, particularly Amalapuram is under police control and drone cameras as well as body cameras were made ready.

Large number of police personnel was deployed in Ravula Palem where Padayatra was scheduled to begin. All the 13 entrances to Ravulapalem were sealed.

Speaking to reporters, Mudragada’s close aide and Kapu JAC leader Vasireddy Yesudas said that next action will be chalked out after discussing with the JACs of all the 13 districts.

He lamented that constitutional rights are being violated in the state and the government is spending crore of rupees to suppress the Kapu agitation.

He further said that the government has violated even the directions of the court. Stating that the police have failed to implement section 30 and 144 during cockfights, he criticised that it is strictly implementing these sections to suppress the movement.

He maintained that the government is suppressing Kapu community which is one-fourth of the state population.