Teenmar Mallanna's Gunman Fires in Air as Jagruthi Activists Vandalise Office
The group was reportedly angered by comments made by Mallanna regarding the BC movement led by Kavitha.
Hyderabad: Two Telangana Jagruthi activists were injured on Sunday during their attack on suspended Congress MLC Chintapandu Naveen alias Teenmaar Mallanna at his youtube news channel office in Boduppal to protest his derogatory comments against BRS MLC K. Kavitha.
Naveen was inside the office when the attack took place at around 11.30 am.
When the mob tried to gain forced entry into Naveen’s room, one of two gunmen Balakrishna opened fire with six bullets in the air, putting the lives of several protestors and Naveen’s staff at risk.
Initially, the mob, which included five to six women, ransacked the office and broke glass doors and pushed one gunman who tried his best to prevent them from entering Naveen’s room. At one stage he threatened to shoot the protesters at point-blank range pointing his gun at them.
When the attackers continued to surge, another gunman opened fire in the air. However, nobody sustained bullet injuries as they pierced through the false ceiling and stuck there.
Naveen, who is known for the use of abusive language in his talk shows and public meetings, stirred the hornets’ nest by questioning Kavitha’s newfound love for Backward Classes by asking with derogatory remarks angering Kavitha’s supporters.
Naveen, however, defended his choice of words, which he said meant entering into marriage alliances. Kavitha, however, petitioned Legislative Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy to take disciplinary action against her colleague in the Council.
She also lodged a complaint with the DGP’s office. Naveen on the other hand filed a complaint against Kavitha and her followers at the Medipally police station.
According to police and eyewitness reports, nearly 50 Telangana Jagruthi workers stormed into the MLC’s office premises, vandalised property, and physically assaulted staff members during a 20-minute saga.
According to staffer D. Maruthi, an eyewitness, “It was a complete shock for us. They came shouting, armed with sticks and stones. Srinivas tried to stop them, but they started hitting him. They broke chairs, smashed cameras, and barged into the studio rooms looking for Mallanna,” he said.
Another staffer added that the attackers even broke the glass panes, destroyed CCTV equipment, and overturned furniture. “They tried to manhandle Mallanna inside his office. Another gunman, Balakrishna, tried to intervene but the overwhelming crowd did not leave any option, he fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd,” he explained.
Medipally inspector Govind Reddy said, “The two injured persons are being treated at a private hospital. No one suffered any gunshot wounds. However, the bullets that were stuck on the roof wall were collected by the Clues Team.”
Addressing media persons, Naveen accused the BRS leader’s faction of orchestrating the attack to suppress emerging political voices from the BC communities. “Around 50 Jagruthi members, including Kavitha’s relative Sujeet Rao, stormed into my office. One of them even tried to snatch my gunman’s weapon,” he alleged.
As tensions escalate between Naveen and the Jagruthi members, Malkajgiri DCP P.V. Padmaja and ACP Chakrapani visited the place along with inspector Govinda Reddy while the inspectors of the neighbouring police stations such as Nacharam and Uppal too turned up at the place and guarded the area.