Tension grips erstwhile Guntur dt over arson, rioting in Macherla; TDP, YCP trade charges

MACHERLA : TDP leader Brahma Reddy's house was set on fire on Saturday after a scuffle broke out between YSRCP and TDP party cadre in Macherla town, Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh police enforced Section 144 in Macherla and deployed additional forces to prevent untoward acts during clashes between TDP and YSRCP cadres.

The brawl erupted after members of both parties attacked each other with sticks and stones at the TDP's "Idem Kharma" programme. Several members of both parties were reportedly injured during the clash.

Andhra Pradesh DGP Rajendranath Reddy ordered an investigation into the Macherla riots and drafted IG Trivikrama Verma along with massive forces to bring the situation under control in Macherla.

The DGP said that they were conducting a full-scale investigation into the Macherla incident and warned that those involved would face punishment, claiming that law and order were under control in Macherla.

However, the YSRCP claimed that the Macherla riots were scripted by TDP president Nara Chandrababu Naidu in order to gain public sympathy. Macherla MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy accused Chandrababu and Nara Lokesh of planning the riots in Macherla.

Ramakrishna Reddy claimed since TDP had no party office in Macherla, TDP cadre caused a commotion by setting Brahma Reddy's house on fire to gain sympathy from the public. He demanded that police take action against TDP leaders who were involved in the attacks.

He demanded that police punish TDP leaders involved in the attacks.

Meanwhile, protests broke out in Ponnur and Guntur. The police house-arrested former MLA Dhulipalla Narendra and arrested former Minister Nakka Anand Babu in Guntur. However, Narendra broke the cordon and took out a massive protest rally. He strongly criticised Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and held him responsible for the ruckus and law and order breakdown at Macherla.

Former Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and many other TDP leaders very strongly condemned the attack on Brahma Reddy's house and alleger that YSR Congress was responsible for attacking the peacefully-protesting TDP rank and file.

The Superintendent of Police of Palnadu district asserted that there was factional feud and the police had collected all evidences in the case of rioting and arson. Over half a dozen persons were taken into custody by the police.