Post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh: Attacks, counter-attacks mar peace, police firing

TIRUPATI: A day after the simultaneous polls in Andhra Pradesh which has witnessed sporadic violence between political opponents, violence erupted in different parts of the State that led to attacks on opponents, torching of vehicles, and property damage.

At the Padmavati Mahila University in Tirupati, YSRCP activists attacked the convoy of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s Chandragiri Assembly candidate Pulivarthi Nani while he was returning after checking the strong room where the EVMs were kept.

Activists armed with empty bottles, stones, and sticks attacked the TDP’s leader’s car. TDP leaders later alleged that a YSRCP leader called Bhanu was responsible for the attack on Pulivarti. They said that the car of the TDP leader was damaged and his gunman received grievous injuries in the attack.

TDP’s Chittor Lok Sabha candidate Daggumalla Prasad Rao in a statement blamed YSRCP Chandragiri candidate Mohit Reddy for the attack. Meanwhile, condemning the attack on him, Pulivarti Nani sat on a dharna inside the campus.

Kuchivaripalli

More than eight villagers at Kuchivaripalli of Chandragiri Assembly Constituency were injured in the attack allegedly led by followers of Mohith Reddy.

However, in the retaliatory attack by the TDP activists, the YSP MLA candidate Mohit Reddy and Sarpanch Kotala Chandrasekhar Reddy had to run away. A car left by the YSRCP activists was burnt down by the TDP cadre and another vehicle was damaged.

Several houses and properties belonging to both TDP and YSRCP were attacked and damaged in the mayhem that followed.

Palnadu-Karampudi

In Karampudi supporters of YSRCP leaders, Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and his brother Venkatarami Reddy attacked houses and properties of TDP supporters. The brothers were passing through Karampudi after visiting YSRCP activists injured in a TDP attack in Sannagandla village.

Armed with rods and sticks they created havoc in the village by attacking anyone that appeared on the streets. They also attacked the local TDP office and damaged furniture. They also burned down a car belonging to a local TDP leader Jani Basha. Inspector of Police Narayana Swamy was also injured in the attack.

Tadipatri

The violence that erupted during polling on Monday, continued in Tadipatri on Tuesday. More than vehicles were damaged and several activists were injured in the attack led by the YSRCP leader Pedda Reddy. It was alleged that Pedda Reddy’s men attacked TDP leader Suryamuni. Pedda Reddy was kept under house arrest by the police on Monday.