Gajwel, the constituency represented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, witnessed tense situation since Monday morning with a large number of police erecting check posts to arrest the Opposition leaders scheduled to visit Erravalli and Vemulaghat – the two villages falling under the Mallannasagar reservoir.
The Opposition leaders on their part tried to sneak in by escaping the police dragnet.
Almost, all routes leading to these villages were cordoned off by the police and they did not allow outsiders in without ascertaining their identity and the purpose for their visit.
Even the media personnel were not allowed without producing their identity cards.
The bandh call given by the Opposition - TDP, Congress, CPI (M), CPI and BJP - got a good response with buses being off the roads till 11 a.m., and shops and establishments remained closed till afternoon.
Gajwel and its surrounding areas too witnessed partial bandh.
In Siddipet, TRS and Opposition activists clashed during the bandh, which was partial.
At the district headquarters, from 4 a.m. itself, former whip T. Jayaprakash Reddy sat in front of the depot along with activists of other parties and stopped buses from plying.
Police arrested Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M. Kodandaram at Ontimamadi near Mulugu, and after taking him to three to four police stations, he was detained at IDA Bollaram police station till afternoon.
Police planned to arrest Telangana Telugu Desam Party (TTDP) working president A. Revanth Reddy but he escaped the police dragnet and reached Gajwel by getting into a bus.
He was arrested along with BJP leader M. Raghunandan Rao and shifted to Dundigal police station, where he was detained till evening.
Congress leaders C. Damodar Rajanarasimha, V. Suntiha Lakshma Reddy, A. Dayakar and others were arrested at Gajwel and Ponnam Prabahkar at Siddipet.
Vimalakka arrested
Revolutionary singer Vimalakka was arrested at Kukunoorpally and shifted to Jagadevpur police station.
Despite heavy presence, CPI (M) leader Tammineni Veerabhadram, CPI leader Pasya Padma and retired judge Chandra Kumar reached Vemulaghat and extended support to the ongoing agitation.
Even after being beaten up by the police on Sunday, a large number of women participated in a relay fast on the 51{+s}{+t}day of agitation at Vemulaghat.
They held a rally and burnt the effigies of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and raised slogans against them. Meanwhile, students in Erravalli took out a rally, raising slogans against the Chief Minister.
