Local police today arrested scores of dalit leaders who were on their way to attend a meeting in the wake of recent desecration of statues of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the East Godavari district, police said.
Local police today arrested scores of Dalit leaders who were on their way to attend a meeting in the wake of recent desecration of statues of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the East Godavari district, police said.
Jupudi Prabahkar Rao, Gollapalli Surya Rao, Bojja Tharakam and K Nirmala Kumari were among others who were arrested by police near Buddha Bhavan Vihar here when they were heading towards Amlapuram in East Godavari district to attend the meeting organised in the backdrop of defiling of the five figures of the Dalit icon on January 23.
Meanwhile, referring to the arrests of V Durga Babu (20), K Anji Babu (19) and M Anil (19) yesterday in connection with the desecration incident, the Dalit leaders today said the police had arrested innocent persons.
"We are organising the meeting to discuss the reasons for desecration of the statues and not for other things," they said.
However, Additional Director General of Police Krishnam Raju said a massive manhunt was launched to nab the main accused Gandham Pallam Raju and his nine associates for allegedly desecrating the statues.
According to police, the accused arrested in connection with defiling the statues have said that they committed the act under the influence of alcohol.
Security has been beefed up in the district following arrest of the Dalit leaders.
Meanwhile, the attempt of Dalit leaders and members of the community to hold demonstrations and rasta-rokos in protest against the arrest of their leaders was foiled by police.
In a related development, MLC K Durgesh today launched an indefinite fast in Rajahmundry demanding arrest of the "real" culprits.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}