Telangana police restrict Harish Rao, Sabitha Indra Reddy amid Parigi land agitation

Hyderabad: Former Minister and BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad on Tuesday, ahead of his visit to Parigi to extend solidarity to farmers’ protests. Police were deployed in large numbers at outside his residence early in the morning, preventing him from leaving for Parigi.

Harish Rao along with BRSLP deputy leader P Sabitha Indra Reddy and other BRS leaders were scheduled to meet farmers who are protesting opposing the acquisition of their lands for a proposed industrial park at Kallapur and Rapole villages in Parigi mandal.

Police also placed Sabitha Indra Reddy and several BRS leaders from the erstwhile Ranga Reddy district under house arrest. Former Pargi MLA Koppula Mahesh Reddy was detained and shifted to a police station, while BRS leader Shubhaprad Patel was taken into custody.

The restrictions came amid escalating protests by farmers in Kallapur and Rapole villages, where the government plans to acquire 1,197 acres for the industrial park. Farmers have launched relay protests, refusing to part with their lands. The BRS already extended its support to the farmers.