The Free Press Journal

EC GETS ANGRY AT VIOLENCE IN AP, SUMMONS CS, DGP TO NEW DELHI

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

The EC has summoned him to appear in person and explain the incidents. There were warnings in advance that violent incidents would take place. The EC is learnt to have questioned why he was so indifferen­t on the day of polling. He has been asked to appear in person on the matter and give an explanatio­n. The two officials are scheduled to visit Delhi on Thursday and appear before the Election Commission of India. The EC noted that the local authoritie­s were indifferen­t and negligent in the wake of the violence that followed, including the elections. AP Special Observer Rammohan Mishra, who personally visited Palnadu, is learnt to have reported the matter directly to the CEC.

The areas like Tadipatri, Tirupati and Karampudi turned into a battlegrou­nd on Tuesday after polling. YSRCP leaders allegedly attacked their rivals with firearms at the premises of 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, faced a murder attempt. Chandragir­i YSRCP MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, his son and now party candidate Mohit Reddy's followers created a ruckus by attacking him with sticks, stones and beer bottles. Along with Nani, his driver and the gunman were 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.

MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishn­a Reddy along with his supporters created havoc in Karampudi of Macherla constituen­cy

in Palnadu district. The TDP office was vandalised on the pretext that someone had pelted a stone on his car. He was on his way via Karampudi when an unidentifi­ed person threw a stone at a car in his convoy. The convoy went towards the nearby TDP office and stopped. The YSRCP activists, who were in the cars, took out sticks, knives and rods and barged into the TDP office. The chairs were smashed. Stones were thrown. The flexes were torn. The doors were destroyed.

TDP activist Mastan Janibasha's son Buddu and Sheikh Jan were stopped by the car. They were brought out and were attacked and then their car was set on fire. The YSRCP activists roamed on the roads and created havoc. The shopkeeper­s were also attacked. One Punnamma's

thopu (selling tiffin) cart was broken. Her daughter and grand-daughter, who were sitting there, were attacked.

Tadipatri in Anantapur district turned into a battlefiel­d. MLA Ketireddy Peddareddy created a ruckus. YSRCP agents Sanjeeva, Ajay and four others, who were present at Chintalara­yuni Palem in Tadipatri, attacked TDP agent Bhanu and party's supporter Mohan. In the meantime, TDP leader Surya Muni's followers stopped YSRCP agent Sanjeeva and he brought to the notice of MLA Pedda Reddy. 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 the 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 JC Prabhakar Reddy came to Surya Muni's house and visited him. Later, the TDP activists staged a rasta roko protesting against Pedda Reddy's anarchy. From there, they reached the government junior college ground where the YSRCP activists, who were planning to attack, brought stones with tractors and threw them at the TDP activists. Fireworks were burst on the TDP activists. Central forces entered the scene and