EC Angry At Violence In AP, Summons CS, DGP To Delhi

The Election Commission (EC) has expressed its displeasure over several incidents of violence in Andhra Pradesh, including those in Palnadu and Chandragiri, that took place during and after the elections. The Commission has directed Chief Secretary Jawahar Reddy and DGP Harish Kumar Gupta to appear in person and give an explanation for the incidents.

The EC is learnt to have told the officials that there were warnings in advance that violent incidents would take place, and asked why they were then so callous on the day of polling, and why the local authorities were indifferent and negligent even in the wake of the violence.

AP Special Observer Rammohan Mishra, who personally visited Palnadu, is learnt to have reported the matter directly to the CEC.

The two top AP officials are scheduled to visit Delhi on Thursday and appear before the Commission.

Many incidents of violence were reported in AP on the polling day. Areas in Tadipatri, Tirupati and Karampudi are especially reported to have turned into battlegrounds. YSRCP leaders allegedly attacked their rivals with firearms on the premises of the Sri Padmavathi Women's University in Tirupati. Chandragiri TDP candidate Pulivarthi Nani, who had come to inspect the strong rooms where the EVMs were stored, allegedly faced a murder attempt. Followers of Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (of the YSRCP), and his son and now party candidate Mohit Reddy, are said to have created a ruckus by attacking Nani with sticks, stones and beer bottles. Along with Nani, his driver and the gunman were also attacked. Before recovering, the gunmen opened fire in the air as the assailants attacked them. Nani sustained injuries to his shoulder as the YSRCP mob continued the attack. The gunman also suffered serious head injuries.

Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, also of the YSRCP, along with his supporters is alleged to have created havoc in Karampudi of Macherla constituency in Palnadu district. It started when an unidentified person reportedly threw a stone at a car in his convoy when he was driving via Karampudi. The convoy then went towards the nearby TDP office, and the YSRCP activists who were in the cars took out sticks, knives and rods and barged into the TDP office and vandalised it.

The YSRCP activists also reportedly roamed on the roads and created havoc. Shopkeepers were also attacked. TDP activist Mastan Janibasha's son Buddu and Sheikh Jan were stopped when they were going in their car. They were reportedly brought out and attacked, and then their car was set on fire. One Punnamma's thoppu cart (selling tiffins) was broken. Her daughter and grand-daughter, who were sitting there, were attacked.

Tadipatri in Anantapur district turned into a battlefield. MLA Ketireddy Peddareddy is reported to have created a ruckus. YSRCP agents Sanjeeva, Ajay and four others who were present at Chintalarayuni Palem in Tadipatri attacked TDP agent Bhanu and a TDP supporter Mohan. TDP leader Surya Muni's followers stopped Sanjeeva, and he brought things to the notice of MLA Peddareddy. The MLA along with his followers went to Surya Muni's house and started pelting stones. Special Commandant Srinivasa Rao went to the area with forces and dispersed the mob. Along with him, city CI Muralikrishna sustained injuries in the attack.

As soon as he came to know about this, municipal chairman J C Prabhakar Reddy came to Surya Muni's house and visited him. Later, the TDP activists staged a rasta roko protesting against Peddareddy's anarchy. From there, they reached the government junior college ground where the YSRCP activists, who were reportedly planning to attack, brought stones with tractors and threw them at the TDP activists. Live fireworks were thrown on the TDP activists. Central forces entered the scene and dispersed the mobs.