BRS leaders obstructed from attending funeral of RTC driver

Several BRS leaders were detained by police while heading to Narsampet to attend the funeral of an RTC driver. The action triggered protests, with party leaders accusing the government of preventing them from expressing solidarity with the bereaved family

Hyderabad: Several BRS leaders and elected representatives were detained by police on Friday while heading to Narsampet in Warangal district to pay homage to deceased RTC driver Shankar Goud. They were en route to attend the funeral and console his family.

BRSLP deputy leader and former Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, along with former MPs Vinod Kumar and Maloth Kavitha, were intercepted at the Raghunathpalli toll gate in Jangaon district and taken to a local police station. The trio was stopped while en route to Narsampet following news of the RTC driver’s death.

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Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council S Madhusudhanachari was also detained at Alair under similar circumstances. Former Minister V Srinivas Goud was detained and shifted to Ghanpur police station while heading to attend the final rites of Shankar Goud.

The detentions triggered protests, with Jangaon MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy staging a dharna outside the Raghunathpalli Police Station, demanding the immediate release of Sabitha Indra Reddy, Vinod Kumar, Maloth Kavitha and other leaders. Former Minister T Rajaiah and other BRS leaders also protested at Ghanpur police station, demanding the release of Srinivas Goud and others.

BRS leaders alleged that the police action was aimed at preventing them from attending the funeral and extending solidarity with the bereaved family. They accused the government of suppressing the opposition amid rising tensions over the RTC workers’ strike.