Tension Grips Dharmavaram As Rival Groups Clash During Nominations
Tension erupted in Dharmavaram during municipal poll nominations after rival YSRC and Telugu Desam supporters clashed, prompting police to use a lathicharge.
Tension gripped the Dharmavaram town during the nomination process for municipal polls on Friday following an alleged attack on the Telugu Desam by YSRC supporters near a nomination centre in Satya Sai district.
Police forces restored the situation after holding a lathicharge against both groups near the municipal office premises.
K Venkata Krishna Reddy, brother of former Dharmavaram MLA Kethireddy Venkatarami Reddy of YSRC, arrived at the nomination centre along with YSRC leaders in a convoy of around 20 vehicles.
The arrival of a large number of supporters caused tension in the area. The situation escalated when supporters of Kethireddy attacked TDP leaders and workers near the nomination centre after a heated argument between both groups. Stones were reportedly pelted by both groups triggering panic and tension in the vicinity.
More than 1,000 people gathered in the area, raising concern over a possible escalation of the clash. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to bring the situation under control and prevent further violence by possibly dispersing the mob from the spot. This created a tense atmosphere in Dharmavaram amid the ongoing nomination process for the local elections.
Additional forces have been posted at Dharmavaram in view of the history of poll related violence.
