Mudragada Padmanabham springs a surprise

Rajamahendravaram: Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham commenced his padayatra to Amaravati from his house at Kirlampudi without any announcement. He started padayatra at about 1.40 PM along with hundreds of Kapu community people.

Meanwhile, the entire police force from Kirlampudi was sent to Kakinada because election campaign by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of various political parties, leaving only a skeletal force at Kirlampudi village. Sensing this, Mudragada suddenly began his padayatra. But police stopped him between Veeravaram and Rajupalem, about six kms away from Kirlampudi .

Hearing the news, East Godavari SP Vishal Gunni along with his men rushed to the spot. They later halted the march and took Mudragada to Ramachandrapuram near Samalkot in a bus.

Meanwhile, DGP Nanduri Sambasiva Rao also rushed to Rajamahendravaram to assess the situation. Later, addressing a press conference in the office of urban SP here on Sunday evening, the DGP said the local police failed to anticipate the padayatra and the entire police force was sent to Kakinada for bundobust duty.

“Padmanabham made use of this opportunity and started padayatra violating police rules. Stern action will be initiated against local police for their failure in this regard and local DSP will also be placed under suspension. The police cannot allow padayatra until Padmanabham obtains permission,” the dGP said.

He reminded the past violent incidents during Mudragada’s protest programmes. What is his problem when the government is asking him to apply for permission,” he questioned.

Responding to a question, the DGP said the government put an end to the issue shortly. “If necessary we will arrest Mudragada Padmanabham and a case also be registered against him for violating Police Act,” Sambasiva Rao said. He also enquired from East Godavari SP Vishal Gunni whether he could control the situation and if necessary he would go over to the spot himself, he added.