PD Act invoked against key accused in Keshavapatnam case

Adilabad police have invoked the PD Act against Shaik Altaf, the prime accused in the July 19 assault on forest and police personnel during a plantation drive in Echoda mandal. Altaf faces multiple charges including extortion and land encroachment.

Adilabad: Police invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against a key accused in the assault on forest officials and police personnel at Keshavapatnam village in Echoda mandal on Sunday.

Echoda Inspector Bandari Raju, in a statement, said Shaik Altaf from the village was booked under the PD Act for assaulting public servants, threatening the public, occupying lands and duping people. Altaf was sent to a central prison at Cherlapalli in Hyderabad. He was booked for various crimes including extortion and criminal intimidation.

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As many as 29 people were arrested for allegedly pelting stones and attacking police and forest staff during a plantation drive held by the Forest Department on July 19.