Kadapa, April 15: TENSION prevailed in Kodur today when Jagan Mohan Reddy loyalists clashed with the police. MLA K Srinivasulu, MLC Jupudi Prabhakar, former minister M Mareppa, SC, ST Association leader Nagarjuna, BSP leader N Suryaprakash, DCCB chairman K Brahmananda and others were stopped by the police when they came to unveil the statue of BR Ambedkar near Kodur police station today saying that no permission was given for the programme as model code of conduct was in force.
Police refused permission to SC, ST Association president Durgaiah yesterday when he sought permission for the programme. Further, they took Durgaiah and 10 others into preventive custody.
Today, Srinivasulu along with Prabhakar and Mareppa went in a huge rally from YS Guest House in the town to the Ambedkar statue to unveil it. Expecting trouble, police forces were deployed in large number at the statue. There was a tussle between the police and leaders and at one stage, the situation seemed to be slipping out of control.
Some of the activists, who managed to break the police cordon, tore off the cloth covering the statue. For about half an hour there was jostling.
Rajamept DSP Kosalram arrested the MLA, MLC and former minister along with others and shifted them to Rajampet police station.
Cases were booked against the MLA and others under section 188 and 109, for violation of election code. Later, all were released on bail.
–Agencies