Police on Monday morning took former MLA and YSR Congress leader Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) into custody in connection with his participation in two protests held at Hussianpalem and Potlapalem. He was also charged with preventing excise officials from raiding a local bar.
Mr. Venkatramaiah was among the key protesters who took part in the agitations against the notification issued in August for acquisition of 14,500 acres of private land in Machilipatnam and Pedana mandals for Bandar Port and other port-based industries. At least two constables were injured during a clash between the police and the protesters at Hussiapalem where Nani blocked the road during a dharna on September 2. Farmers from the region led by Nani organised the dharna against the land acquisition notification.
“We arrested Perni Venkatramaiah for his involvement in the protests held at Hussianpalem and Potlapalem. Two cases have been registered against him at Machilipatnam rural police station,” Machilipatnam Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Surya Sravan Kumar said, adding that the former MLA had also been accused of disrupting the Mee Intiki-Mee Bhumi programme at Phothepalli.
Meanwhile, Chilakalapudi police also registered a case against Mr. Nani and nine others for obstructing the Excise Task Force in conducting raids on a local bar on Friday. “Nani was produced before a local court,” the DSP said.
