7 injured as TDP rival groups clash

Kurnool: Clashes between the two groups resulted in some tense moments at the Singavaram village in Bandi Atmakur mandal of Nandyal on Sunday night. The two rival groups of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) attacked each other with sticks and other weapons.

In the incident, several members from each group were injured. All the injured persons were immediately rushed to government general hospital in Nandyal for treatment. However, the Nandyal police brought the situation under control by setting up a police picket.

According to Nandyal CI G Ramakrishna Reddy, the villagers of Bandi Atmakur have arranged buses to attend the Janmabhoomi programme at Atmakur on Sunday. At the time of boarding the bus, the Sarpanch’s husband, Gokulaiah was said to have humiliated Chinna Mallikarjuna alias Malliah by using casteist remarks, he stated.

After returning to Bandi Atmakur on Sunday night, Chinna Mallikarjuna picked up a quarrel with Gokulaiah and attacked him. On coming to know of the attack on Sarpanch’s husband, their group too retaliated. In the attack, seven persons were critically injured, the CI said. The police filed cases on the two groups based on the complaints.