The Narasaraopet police on Monday arrested YSR Congress Party local MLA Dr Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy for staging a dharna in support of farmers who were agitating over their assigned lands being lost to road construction works in Narsaraopet.
The agitating farmers, of Ramireddipalem under the Rompicharla mandal, sought the MLA's support as the road construction started. The MLA, along with his supporters, rushed to the spot and obstructed the road works. At this, Mandal Revenue Officer Rajarathnam lodged a complaint with the police against Dr Reddy alleging that the MLA and his supporters were preventing them from discharging their legitimate duties. Consequently, the police registered a non-bailable case against the MLA for obstructing a government servant from discharging his duty.
Protesting the case, the MLA staged a dharna in front of the Narsaraopet police station, and the police arrested him. A large number of Party workers and the MLA's supporters gathered at the police station to protest against the arrest, and a tense situation prevailed in Narsaraopet town.