CPI, Congress factions clash at Paloncha in Kothagudem, cases booked
Tension prevailed in Paloncha after CPI and Congress workers clashed in Seetharampatnam. The dispute, reportedly linked to gambling allegations and a land issue, continued at the police station. Cases were registered against members of both groups and an investigation is underway
Kothagudem: Tension prevailed in Paloncha in the district as CPI and Congress workers clashed at Seetharampatnam in the 35th Division of the Kothagudem Municipal Corporation.
The clash, which started during the late evening hours on Thursday, continued until late at night, and both the rival groups reached the Paloncha police station in large numbers to lodge complaints against each other. They also clashed at the police station even as the police tried to control them.
According to sources, the clash erupted after a few Congress workers allegedly attacked the residence of local CPI corporator Nama Keerthy and manhandled her husband, Vinod. An issue related to the running of a gambling den and a land dispute between CPI and Congress factions was said to be behind the incident.
It was said that a few days ago, Congress workers tipped off the police about an alleged gambling den being run in the area, and the police booked a few persons, including Vinod’s relatives. A senior CPI leader intervened and settled the matter without any further complications.
A couple of days ago, a CPI worker went to the house of Congress workers who had tipped off the police about the gambling activity and behaved in a provocative manner. Keeping that in mind, the Congress workers attacked the residence of the corporator.
Based on complaints lodged by both groups, the Paloncha police booked cases against Congress worker Billa Srujith and 13 others, along with CPI worker Vinod and nine others. The case is under investigation, said SI Nagaraju.