Tension in Kamareddy after Congress, BJP workers clash

Tension gripped Kamareddy after Congress and BJP workers clashed over land encroachment allegations involving MLA Venkata Ramana Reddy. Police used a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and took one leader into preventive custody

Nizamabad: Tension prevailed in Kamareddy town on Saturday after Congress workers tried to lay siege to local BJP MLA Venkata Ramana Reddy’s camp office. This followed a verbal duel between the BJP MLA and Government Advisor Mohd Ali Shabbir in the last few days over land encroachment allegations.

The Government Advisor had alleged that the BJP MLA had encroached Aurora lands. Countering his charges, the BJP MLA challenged the Congress leader to an open debate on the matter. Condemning the BJP MLA’s remarks against the Congress leader, former Sarpanch Giri Reddy Mahender Reddy and his supporters tried to lay siege to the MLA’s camp office. BJP workers turned up in large numbers at the venue and a ruckus prevailed. Workers from both parties raised slogans against each other and entered into arguments. A vehicle was damaged and overturned in the melee, according to reports.

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Police immediately arrived at the MLA’s camp office and prevented Venkata Ramana Reddy from proceeding to take part in the debate. Later, they resorted to a lathi charge and dispersed workers from both parties. Mahender Reddy was taken into preventive custody by the police.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Rakesh Reddy was prevented from heading towards Kamareddy. He wanted to meet Venkata Ramana Reddy, but police stopped him at Medchal Chowrasta. Raising objections, the MLA and other BJP leaders squatted on the road.

Taking to X, BJP State president N Ramchander Rao said the attack by Congress workers on Venkata Ramana Reddy’s camp office was “condemnable” and “shocking”.

“Such acts of political violence have no place in a democracy,” Rao said, adding that he would personally visit the spot to stand with BJP karyakartas and assess the situation firsthand.