Vishakapatnam, September 21: A Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) activist was critically injured after police whipped out their lathis to disperse a group of protestors, who had been on a hunger strike over alleged irregularities in rehabilitating people ousted by the Anrak alumina refinery project, in Makavarapalem on Monday.
The condition of the PRP worker identified as Mapada Srinu was said to be extremely critical. He was rushed to the Care hospital here for treatment.
Another party man, Peddinaidu, was also seriously injured but was out of danger.
The victims of the project, led by PRP leader Ruttala Yerrapatrudu, had been on a fast-untodeath in front of the revenue office since Sunday. Their main allegation is that revenue officials are allotting land meant for them to people close to the Congress. The police and the revenue officials urged the protestors to get their leader Ruttala admitted to a hospital as he appeared unwell. But the PRP leader remained firm prompting the police to break up his camp around 3 a.m. The protestors resisted the attempt to shift Ruttala forcibly to the hospital.
The cops caned them to bring the situation under control.
Ruttala was later admitted to the government hospital in Narsipatnam.
PRP chief Chiranjeevi, who was in Rajahmundry, rushed to Narsipatnam and Makavarapalem to pacify his partymen. They called off their stir following his intervention.
Chiranjeevi said he would take up the issue with Chief Minister K Rosaiah and alleged that politicians and officials were abusing their positions. Chiranjeevi also met Srinu’s family.
–Agencies