Hyderabad, January 31: Information and Public Relations Minister and Gadwal legislator DK Aruna was on Sunday targeted by suspected pranksters to allegedly deter her from taking an active part in the ongoing Rachabanda programme.
Police unearthed six electric detonators on the Gadwal- Izha road during an overnight search operation in Gadwal and surrounding areas after anonymous calls regarding “land mines” on the minister’s route.
The detonators turned out to be nothing more than firecrackers devoid as they were of explosive material. “We have found six detonators on the outskirts of Gadwal.
They did not contain any explosives,’’ Mahabubnagar superintendent of police G Sudheer Babu told Express.
The detonators were made into two bunches of three each and connected to wires planted in the bushes on the roadside.
No batteries were attached to the wires. “Even if they were detonated, they would have caused a minor blast like that of a firecracker,’’ the police said adding that it appeared to be an amateur’s job.The minister too received an anonymous call at her residence in the State capital this morning reportedly from a public telephone at Pedda Kothapally village in Kollapur mandal, Mahabubnagar district .
Though she did not lodge a complaint, she informed the Mahabubnagar police of the threat call. “It (the call and the planting of detonators) doesn’t seem to be serious as of now. But we are probing the case,’’ Sudheer Babu said. The Gadwal police registered a case under the Explosives Act.
Aruna has been participating actively in the Rachabanda programme which is being opposed tooth and nail by the Telangana joint action committee (political) and T students’ joint action committee.
“The minister frequently travels on the Gadwal-Izha route. She took the same road on Saturday and is scheduled to travel again on Monday,” the police said.
The cops believe the planting of detonators and anonymous calls are all meant to prevent the minister from taking part in Rachabanda.
“It might not be the work of Maoists as their presence is negligible in the district. But we are probing all angles,” an officer said.
Incidentally, Aruna’s father, C Narsi Reddy was shot dead by Naxals a few years back in Mahabubnagar district.
–Agencies