KARIMNAGAR: Field assistants led by women’s leader Indira Shoban have been prevented from going on “Upaadhi Bharosa Padayatra” at Illandhakunta in Huzurabad constituency of Karimnagar district on Friday.
Indira Shoban and field assistants first offered prayers at Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple in Illandhakunta before starting their padapatra. However, police prevented them from doing so, stating no permission had been given for the yatra.
A heated argument took place between Indira Shoban and police officials, who forcibly took her into custody and shifted her to the ACP office in Huzurabad town.
Speaking later to media, she said she had applied for permission to take out the padayatra in support of field assistants, who had been removed from their jobs in Illandhakunta mandal of Huzurabad constituency. She maintained that police commissioner V. Satyanarayana had even given permission for the yatra. But later, under political pressure, he withdrew his permission. “We wanted to only take out a peaceful protest padayatra. But stopping and arresting us is unfair and illegal,” she maintained.
Subsequently, field assistants and unemployed youth staged a dharna at Illandhakunta chowrasta to protest against the arrest of Indira Shoban.
Former zilla parishad chairperson of united Karimnagar district and BJP leader Tula Uma has extended her support to the protesting field assistants and participated in the dharna.
