The Hindu : Front Page : Sundarayya Vignana Kendram attacked

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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
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Sundarayya Vignana Kendram attacked

M. Ramu

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Violence at night: Police take away BJP MLA G. Kishan Reddy from Baghlingampally on Monday night.

HYDERABAD: An attack by a group of unidentified persons on Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Baghlingampally, on Monday night, triggered clashes among activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bharatiya Janata Party. Tension prevailed at Baghlingampally till midnight, as activists from both the parties sparred and blamed each other for the attacks.

Police took into preventive custody BJP MLA G. Kishan Reddy and other activists, even as they squatted on the roads in front of Vignana Kendram till midnight. Police had to resort to lathicharge.

According to Vignana Kendram’s watchman P. Anjayya, eight persons walked into the Kendram office around 8.30 p.m. “They were carrying petrol in three plastic bottles. I grew suspicious and tried to question them. They immediately attacked me,” he said.

The intruders, according to the watchman, sprinkled petrol on the portrait of Communist leader P. Sundarayya and book shelves. Even as the watchmen tried to catch them, two attackers broke the glass entrance gate with flower pots. The attackers then fled on two-wheelers, parked a few yards from the Kendram.

On learning about the attack, activists along with top leaders from both the parties rushed to the Kendram and clashed with each other after heated arguments. A BJP youth wing leader Sridhar, who tried to enter the Kendram to take stock of the situation, was allegedly beaten up by the Left party activists.

Incidentally, BJP MLA Kishan Reddy was attending a silver jubilee function of Saraswathi Shishu Mandir School at Kala Nilayam hall, adjacent to Vignana Kendram. Immediately after the attack, the Left party activists surrounded Mr. Reddy holding him responsible for the attacks. The CPI (M) has given a statewide protest call on Tuesday against the attacks. Left parties have also decided to take out a procession from Vignana Kendram to Assembly at 8 a.m.

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