YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) legislator from Alur, B. Virupakshi, and his son were arrested on Sunday for their alleged involvement in an attack on a Dalit family. The incident occurred after a clash between YSRCP and TDP activists in Sangala and Nemakallu villages of Chippagiri mandal. Tension prevailed in the area, with YSRCP leaders staging a protest at the Chippagiri police station, demanding the release of the arrested MLA.
The altercation began with an argument between a TDP activist from Nemakallu and a YSRCP activist from Sangala over the phone. The situation escalated when Mr. Virupakshi visited Nemakallu in support of his follower. This led to attacks and counter-attacks, with the TDP alleging that the MLA and his followers entered the house of a party SC activist, Nagaraju, and attacked him and his wife.
The police intervened, bringing the situation under control. However, the incident resulted in damaged vehicles and injuries. Mr. Virupakshi’s brother suffered a hand injury, and the vehicles of the MLA and TDP leader Purusotham were damaged. In the early hours of Sunday, the police arrested Mr. Virupakshi, his son Chandrasekhar, and 14 YSRCP activists from their residence in Chippagiri.
TDP Alur Assembly incharge Vaikuntam Jyothi held the YSRCP responsible for the clashes, alleging that the followers of the MLA attacked Mr. Purushotham, TDP mandal convener, and damaged his car. In contrast, YSRCP leaders condemned the midnight arrest of Mr. Virupakshi, describing it as a blatant misuse of police machinery. They claimed that the MLA rushed to Chippagiri after receiving a distress call from a YSRCP activist, whose life was allegedly under threat.
YSRCP leaders also criticized the manner of the arrest, stating that the police broke open the doors of the MLA’s residence, seized CCTV hard disks, and forcibly took away the MLA and his son without allowing them to change their clothes. The police registered attempt-to-murder and SC/ST cases against the victims, according to the YSRCP leaders.
