Police detain Left leaders ahead of Vijayawada protest march

Police detained Left party leaders in Vijayawada on October 10 as they tried to hold the Chalo Lok Bhavan protest. Organisers alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and backed the planned protest in New Delhi.

CPI (M), CITU, the Students Federation of India and other organisations had called for the action. NTR Commissionerate Police said permission had not been granted because Section 30 of Police Act, 1861, was in force. Additional personnel were deployed outside leaders’ homes and at major junctions.

The Hindu reported that CPI (M) state secretary V. Srinivas and his supporters were taken into custody at Lenin Centre while attempting to begin a rally. Police also detained B. Venkateswara Rao in Tiruvuru and J. Venkateswara Rao in A. Konduru, both in NTR district.

Police were stationed outside Ch. Babu Rao’s home and the party’s state office. Students Federation of India state general secretary K. Prasanna Kumar was also stopped.

Separately, APCC president Y.S. Sharmila protested on the main road at Kesarapalli in Krishna district, on Vijayawada’s outskirts. Police prevented her from entering the city. The report described tension around that demonstration.