ELURU: Tribals backed by the CPI(M) on Tuesday resorted to a fresh bout of violence at Bhuttayagudem as a follow-up to the violent incidents reported in Jangareddygudem in connection with removal of encroachments, leaving three policemen and a Deputy Mandal Revenue Officer seriously injured.

Chased by the frenzied mob, Bhuttayagudem Deputy Mandal Revenue Officer Radhakrishna ran for cover and jumped off the wall of his own office, fracturing his legs. Manikyala Rao, the Sub-Inspector attached to the police control room at Eluru, and two other constables reportedly sustained bleeding injuries when they were beaten by agitators with sticks. The injured persons were shifted to Jangareddygudem for treatment.

Mediapersons protest

Windowpanes of a police jeep and another vehicle of the Project Director, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) were damaged when the mob pelted stones at them. Media personnel covering the incident registered their strong protest with the police for snatching their cameras.

Armed with the traditional bows and arrows, the tribals from over 10 habitations in the Agency mandal laid siege to the Mandal Revenue Office, demanding the arrest of Congress leaders who allegedly manhandled their leader and CPI(M) district secretary Mantena Sitaram at Jangareddygudem on Monday.

The police arrested 49 activists of the CPI(M), including Mr. Sitaram, in connection with the reported assault on the Jangareddygudem RDO.

The CPI(M)'s protest against the official action of removing encroachments, including its own office at Jangareddygudem, has snowballed into a showdown between its cadres and the district official machinery.

When the The CPI(M) organised processions and rasta rokos in different parts of the district condemning the alleged excess by officials against its cadres at Jangareddygudem, revenue officials and personnel wore black badges and staged lunch hour demonstrations at their respective offices in protest against what they called `CPI(M)-sponsored political goondaism'' against the `duty-bound' officers.

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