BJP State chief arrested, tension prevailed at his residence

Tension prevailed in Hyderabad after BJP State chief N Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest while attempting to visit Banswada. He was later taken into custody and shifted to a police station. Police deployed additional forces in the town

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at N Ramchander Rao’s residence at Tarnaka here on Sunday after he was placed under house arrest by the police. The BJP State chief wanted to visit Banswada, where two communities were involved in a brawl on Friday over a song being played in a supermarket. However, the police prevented him from going to Banswada. As he continued to argue and proceeded towards the town, the police took him into custody.

As the information spread, Bharatiya Janata Party workers turned up in large numbers at his residence. Heated arguments took place between the police and the BJP leaders. Amid sloganeering by the BJP workers, the BJP chief, along with a few leaders, was shifted to Bolarum police station.

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In a video message, the BJP State chief said the police had prevented him from heading to Kamareddy to extend moral support to local MLA K Venkata Ramana Reddy and people in Banswada. “But the police arrested me. Already, many people were arrested illegally in Banswada. Ironically, the police were arresting BJP workers and Hindu organisation leaders. If any such incidents recur, BJP will not tolerate,” Ramchander Rao warned.

Following the clash between the two communities in Banswada on Friday, police deployed additional forces in the town to prevent any further incidents. Police registered two cases and arrested 12 accused involved in rioting, reports said.