Tension prevailed in Huzurabad assembly segment over counter challenges over alleged fly-ash scam

K M Dayashankar

Huzurabad legislator placed under house arrest in Veenavanka

Police resort to lathi-charge to disperse Congress leaders from Chelpur village

Prevent BRS district president GV Ramakrishna Rao from proceeding to Chelpur village

KARIMNAGAR, JUNE 25, 2024: Tension is prevailing in Huzurabad assembly constituency in general and Veenavanka and Chelpur villages in particular on Tuesday over the challenges and counter challenges by Huzurabad BRS legislator Padi Kaushik Reddy and Congress Huzurabad assembly segment incharge Pranav Babu over the alleged involvement of Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar in the flay-ash scam.

After the Minister served the legal notices to Huzurabad BRS legislator over the alleged allegations of fly-ash scam from NTPC Ramagundam, Mr Kaushik challenged the Minister to dare and take oath at Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Jubilee Hills Hyderabad if he was not involved in the scam. Reacting to the MLA’s challenge, Pranav Babu challenged the legislator to take oath in Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple in Chelpur if he was not involved in corruption.

Accepting the challenge, the BRS legislator was getting to visit the temple in Chelpur village from his Veenavanka village residence on Tuesday. However, the police contingent arrived in large numbers and placed Kaushik Reddy under house arrest. He pleaded with the police that he would alone go to the temple take oath. But, the police did not allow him to move out of the house. Later, he took oath in wet clothes by carrying the portrait of Lord Hanuman in his house.

In the wake of challenge, the Congress arrived in large numbers to the Chelpur village. Huzurabad ACP Srinivas and Inspector Ramesh tried to convince the Congress leaders to leave the venue and cooperate with the police to maintain law and order. When they did not budge, the police resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Irked over this the Congress leaders condemned the police brutality and condemned the police act.

Similarly, BRS district president GV Ramakrishna Rao along with his supporters had started to move towards Chelpur village from Manakondur mandal in support of the BRS legislator. However, the police officials stopped his vehicles convoy and detained in the mandal headquarters.