Vijayawada: The statue of late chief minister N.T. Rama Rao was vandalised leading to tension at Durgi village of Guntur district.
According to police, a man under the influence of liquor vandalised the statue at around 4.30 pm on Jan. 2. Following the development, a large number of Telugu Desam leaders and activists raised protests over the destruction of the statue of their leader.
The police booked a case under Sections 294, 427 of IPC and took up investigation leading to the arrest of the accused in two hours.
The Guntur rural SP Vishal Gunni ordered for an impartial investigation into the case and based on preliminary inquiry, the accused was found in an inebriated condition with a high level of alcohol present in his blood when he attempted to vandalise the statue. The SP appealed to the people not to politicise the issue.
However, when TD leaders called for a protest and intended to visit the statue from several parts of the district to raise their protest, police did not permit them and some of the leaders were even placed under house arrest for some time. The police clamped Section 144 in the village.
Meanwhile, TD leader Prathipati Pulla Rao alleged that the ruling YSR Congress government had conspired to create unrest in the state.
