Tension prevailed at the Tekkali police station for more than six hours early on Wednesday because of a protest by former Minister and senior TDP leader K. Atchannaidu over the arrest of local leaders who had agitated for the continuation of pension for eligible persons.
Mr. Atchannaidu, who insisted on the immediate release of the arrested leaders, registered his protest with Gandhiji’s portrait, alleging that that there was no democracy in YSR Congress government even on the day of Bapuji’s 150th birth anniversary.
He sought immediate justice for pensioners and TDP leaders of Chakipalli village of
his Tekkali Assembly constituency. The police officials and personnel who tried in vain to put an end to the agitation put him under house arrest in Nimmada village of Kotabommali mandal.
Srikakulam Superintendent of Police R.N. Ammireddy sent a report to the government over the series of incidents. Several TDP leaders including Srikakulam MP Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Srikakulam former MLA Gunda Lakshmi Devi, former legislator of Amadalavalsa Kuna Ravikumar and others condemned the arrest of Mr. Atchannaidu. They alleged that the YSR Congress government was trying to demoralise TDP leaders and activists in the district with police.