Karimnagar bandh sees protests, detentions and heavy police deployment

Dharnas, arrests and protests marked the BRS-called Karimnagar bandh against the alleged BJP attack on the MLA camp office. Police detained several BRS leaders, including MLA Gangula Kamalakar, while protesters burnt an effigy of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar

Karimnagar: Dharnas, protest demonstrations and arrests marked the Karimnagar town bandh called by the BRS in protest against the BJP’s attack on the Karimnagar MLA camp office on Saturday. The bandh call was a total success, with all business establishments and educational institutions remaining closed.

Since the BJP and Congress opposed the bandh, police deployed a huge force in the town to prevent any untoward incidents and put some BRS leaders under house arrest besides taking many leaders into preventive custody in the morning.

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A huge police force was deployed at the residence of Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar, preventing him from coming out of the house. He was put under house arrest after the main entrance was closed. When he tried to come out to take part in the bandh, police prevented him.

On learning about it, BRS activists staged a dharna at the MLA’s residence holding black flags in protest against the indifferent attitude of the police. Raising slogans against the state government and the BJP, they condemned the illegal detention of BRS leaders.

Police took them into custody and shifted them to the police station. On the other hand, police arrested agitating BRS workers at Tower Circle. Mild tension prevailed at the MLA’s residence when Kamalakar was arrested. The legislator, who had been under house arrest since morning, had decided to come out to take part in the bandh.

While he was preparing to come out, police took him into custody and shifted him to the LMD police station. Enraged over the incident, BRS activists led by town president Challa Harishankar burnt an effigy of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar at Court Chowk. Police rushed to the spot and took the agitating BRS workers into custody before shifting them to the police station.

On the other hand, a number of BRS leaders and workers were taken into preventive custody in Huzurabad, Choppadandi and other areas. Senior BRS leader and former MLA Sunke Ravishankar was put under house arrest in Burugupalli of Choppadandi mandal.