Amid high drama, Kapu patriarch Mudragada Padmanabham, who launched an indefinite hunger strike today demanding reservation for his community and the release of the persons booked in
the Tuni train burning case, was arrested by the police within hours on Thursday evening for this threat to kill himself by consuming pesticide.
Thousands of Kapus who reached the village to express solidarity with their leader, put up a lot of resistance to the arrest of Mudragada and obstructed the police when he was being shifted in an ambulance. The police resorted to lathi charge on the supporters of Mudragada.
Padmanabham had earlier threatened that he would consume pesticide and commit suicide if the police tried to arrest him. He also demanded that the police show him a proper arrest warrant from the CB-CID as the cases against him were under its purview and not the regular police. With great efforts the CID police entered his residence and took him into custody. Mudragada's wife Padmavathi who was also sitting with him on the deeksha was, however, not taken into custody.
It may be mentioned here that Mudragada is accused number one in various cases related to the Tuni train burning incident. He is likely to be presented before a magistrate in due procedure.