Tense situation is brewing in the Kakinada special economic zone (KSEZ) in Thondangi mandal of East Godavari district. For the past 10 days, villagers have been taking up various kinds of agitational programmes in the area.

According to sources, the situation may flare up if government is apathetic. People in the area are determined to fight against the KSEZ.

According to reliable sources, some youth are trained to lead agitations as in the recent attack on Regency Ceramics at Yan-am on January, 27. Sources said that for the past three days, villagers of Vakada-ripet, Pampadivaripalem, Gaddipet and Gorsapalem are taking the 'vanta-varpu' programme in their fields where the KSEZ has started leveling works. They detained policemen and beat some of them including Thondangi station house officer Mr K. Srinivas, when police went to the villages to arrest youth participating in the agitation.

As many as 1,500 police personnel were deployed in the area to control law and order till Friday.

Sources said that no police attended today's programme. Till now, political parties have not entered the fray.

On Saturday, a Congress leader and former MPP Mr K.Srinivas expressed support to the victims and announced that he would actively participate in the agitation.

Sources said that the agitators led by Mr Srinivas can demolish a hospital being constructed by the KSEZ in the one of the fields soon.

“We do not want to violence in our movement. We are staging our agitation democratically and peacefully,” said KSEZ opposition committee co-convener Mr Peketi Yajamani.

He demanded that government withdraw the KSEZ in their area. He said that they would repay the amounts of Rs.3 lakh in three years.

However, KSEZ authorities are going ahead with their project work.

According to sources, the TDP leader, Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, and district higher authorities will visit the KSEZ area for observing the situation.