About 700 people, including MLAs and MLCs, were arrested as part of the Sadak Bandh agitation held on Thursday by Telangana Political Joint Action Committee and supported by the TRS, BJP and CPI. However, police claimed that no cases have been registered against the arrested leaders and activists.
Mahabubnagar District SP Nagendra Kumar said that the Telangana activists were taken into custody and will be released in the evening and no case has been registered against them. The arrested include 13 MLAs and two MLCs, he said. “We have arrested the MLAs with the consent of the Assembly Speaker," he said.
Four cases were registered for damaging government property (vehicles). If it is proved that the legislators were involved, criminal cases will be booked against them, the SP said.
Meanwhile, TRS President KCR and CPI leader K Narayana described the arrests as undemocratic and said the arrested leaders should be immediately released. The arrested leaders include KTR, Ch Ramesh, Etela Rajaiah, Jupalli Krishna Rao, Jitender Reddy and others.
The agitation took off on a protest note, with JAC members holding dharna on the national highway of Hyderbad-kurnool where K Harishwar Reddy was arrested. At Rajpur, MLC Janardhan Reddy and P Ravinder were held.
T Harish Rao, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Swami Goud participated at the Sadak Bandh at Palamulula near Samshabad. At Bhutpur, locals came in large number to the highway and police arrested them along with MLA Vinay Bhaskar. Jupalli Krishna Rao, Etela Rajender and Jitender Reddy were arrested at Alampur toll plaza. Several vehicles were damaged at the toll plaza.
CPI leaders, who tried to block the highway were arrested.
KTR was arrested at Annaram while led a rally to block the highway. He was taken to Shadnagar polie station. Former MLA Lakshma Reddy and 20 others were arrested at Macharam.
At Kothakota in Mahbubnagar, polie arrested CPI cadre that pelted stones on them.
Prof M Kodandaram and Srinivas Goud were arrested at Alampur and were taken to Rajoli police station. They sat on protest at the police station. At Shadnagar BJP workers held dharna.