Rajahmundry: The police high-handedness in handling the ongoing hunger strike by noted Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham at government hospital draws flak from the political leaders and the general public in Rajahmundry and other parts in Godavari districts. A large number of police personnel were deployed and pickets were set up at government hospital and at the houses of local political leaders. At government hospital, the police have set up barricades and iron fencing for several metres to avoid entry of visitors.
A large number of patients and their attendants faced a tough time to reach the hospital as the police personnel are permitting them in only after verification of their identity cards. As a team of doctors and other health personnel are taking care of the VIP, medical treatment and service to other patients are being affected. The police placed East Godavari District Congress Committee president Kandula Durgesh, YSR Congress senior leader Jakkampudi Vijayalakshmi and several others under house arrest.
A police picket is set up at the residence of former MP G.V. Harsha Kumar and the police are following him wherever he wanted to go and imposed restrictions on his movement. When a team of YSR Congress leaders including Bo-tsa Satyanarayana, Ambati Rambabu, Umareddy Venkateswarlu, Pinepe Viswaroop and others landed at Rajahmundry airport to visit Mudragada at government hospital, the police did not allow them to come out of the airport.
When they resisted it, they were detained and shifted to Korukonda police station. Newsmen were also not allowed to meet the leaders at the police station. Congress district president Kandula Durgesh said, "The police came to my house in the morning and asked me not to come out of the house and threatened to arrest me if I fail to comply with their instructions. The Congress leader wants the state government to fulfill its promise to include Kapus in BC list. However, we want the culprits involved in Tuni violence to be arrested."
Former MP G.V. Harsha Kumar said, "The police are acting in such a way that we are in an emergency period. I am afraid we are living in a dictatorial regime. I am not blaming local police but the government is at fault."
