BJP Leaders, Workers Arrested At Indira Park

Several leaders and workers of Bharatiya Janata Party were arrested by the City Police on Saturday when they took out a rally in protest against the denial of permission by the police to organise a festival at Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar.

Hundreds of BJP workers led by the party's state president G Kishan Reddy marched from Sundaraiyya Park at Baghlingampally to Indira Park. Senior BJP leaders including Dr K Lakhman, Bandaru Dattatreyya, Baddam Bal Reddy, NVS Prabhakar and B Venkat Reddy also participated in the rally. They shouted slogans against the City Police, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the state government.

Talking to reporters, Kishan Reddy alleged that the city police was acting at the behest of MIM, which was deliberately hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. He alleged that the MIM leaders were trying to disturb peace and communal harmony, especially in the Old City. He also alleged that MIM leaders were blackmailing even Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

During the rally some BJP workers had a verbal duel with the police personnel which escalated the tension in the area. However, police dispersed the workers by resorting to mild lathi charge.

Later, the police arrested all BJP leaders and workers. They were shifted to Nampally, Gandhi Nagar, and Regimental Bazar and Musheerabad police stations and released later. (INN)