Police detain BRS leaders ahead of Revanth Reddy’s Sircilla visit

Police detained several opposition leaders, activists, farmers and auto-driver representatives in Rajanna Sircilla and parts of Karimnagar districts ahead of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s visit. The action came amid apprehensions of protests during his public meeting in Sircilla.

Hyderabad: Police launched a widespread preventive detention operation across Rajanna Sircilla district and parts of Karimnagar district ahead of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s visit to Karimnagar and Sircilla on Wednesday. They detaining BRS leaders, former public representatives, youth and student leaders, farmers and auto-driver organisations representatives.

Around 1,600 police personnel were deployed across Sircilla and Vemulawada constituencies, and another 550 personnel in Karimnagar city, with police keeping a close watch on opposition leaders and civil groups amid apprehensions of protests and demonstrations during the Chief Minister’s public meeting.

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The detentions began late Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday. Several BRS leaders were picked up from their homes and taken to police stations, while others were placed under house arrest. BJP leaders and youth functionaries were also detained in several areas.

In Sircilla, BRS district president Thota Agaiah was placed under house arrest. Former sarpanches’ forum district president Matla Madhu, BRS town secretary Myana Ravi and senior leader Diddi Raju were among those detained. BRSV State leader Kancharla Ravigoud was also taken into custody.

Police maintained a special watch on the workers’ colony and warned labour leaders against carrying placards to the meeting. Youth and student leaders were similarly prevented from reaching the venue.

The preventive action extended across the district. In Thangallapalli, several BRS leaders, including former ZPTC member Kodi Anthaiah, were detained. With police vehicles reportedly proving insufficient, mini trucks were used to transport the detainees to the Thangallapalli and Illanthakunta police stations.

In Yellareddypet, BRS leaders and auto-driver unions representatives were detained, while BRS and BJP leaders were picked up in Veernapalli. BRS leaders were detained in Mustabad since midnight onwards. In Chandurthi, BJP youth wing president Mothkupalli Rajasekhar was detained.
At Jillella, Dalit farmers protesting over land titles were detained anticipating them to raise their grievances during the Chief Minister’s visit. In Gambhiraopet, Deputy Sarpanch Lakkireddy Kamalakar Reddy was detained.

In Vemulawada, several BRS and BJP councillors and former councillors were taken to police stations. Similar detentions were reported from Medipalli and other mandals. In Boinpally, BRS mandal president Katterapaka Kondaiah and several local party leaders were detained and taken to the Karimnagar One Town police station.

The police action was aimed at preventing protests over issues including the Six Guarantees, youth promises, pending bills, urea and power supply, farmers’ and auto-drivers’ problems and the rehabilitation concerns of Mid Manair oustees.

BRS workers detained at Thangallapalli police station reportedly staged a protest inside the premises.

Meanwhile, an alleged voice message circulated among women’s self-help group leaders asked them to attend the Chief Minister’s meeting wearing Indiramma sarees and referred to group-wise attendance and a proposed fine of up to Rs 500 for those absent. The authenticity and implementation of the instructions could not be independently verified.