*YSRCP slams Police crackdown on DSC protesters*

Tadepalli, Sep 25: YSRCP leaders from the undivided Krishna and Guntur districts, meeting at party headquarters, condemned fabricated cases, midnight arrests and arbitrary rowdy sheets targeting DSC protesters. They will meet Vijayawada’s Police Commissioner at 11 a.m. on September 26, submit a representation and decide further legal and political action.

Former minister Ambati Rambabu demanded evidence supporting Section 307 and SC/ST atrocity cases. “No weapon, no injury, not a drop of blood. Why attempt-to-murder charges?” he asked. He questioned plainclothes police taking leaders from vehicles, intimidating families and producing detainees before courts beyond 24 hours. “We will present ourselves for arrest. Produce us before courts. Police uniforms represent lawful authority, not licence for thuggery.”

Ambati and MLC Mondithoka Arun Kumar said FIRs naming a few people and adding “others” enabled sweeping arrests aimed at sidelining active leaders before local elections. Courts were granting bail by applying the law. Political misuse of rowdy sheets must stop, Rambabu said, reminding Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh that power is temporary.

Former minister Vellampalli Srinivas, MLC Lella Appireddy, Malladi Vishnu and TJR Sudhakar Babu demanded answers on 382 sports-quota appointments. Despite five days’ notice, police blocked their peaceful representation at the Sports Authority office, citing Sections 30 and 144, while facilitating TDP-backed groups and a rival protest in teachers’ names.

Shaik Noori Fathima and Varikuti Ashok Babu pointed to videos showing attacks on protesters, including persons with disabilities whose walking sticks were seized and used against them. They demanded action against the attackers and a comprehensive inquiry into Kakumanu Rajasekhar’s death.

Legal Cell general secretary Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy assured every worker of legal support. Leaders declared that Red Book intimidation would intensify resistance and that, under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the struggle would continue until DSC candidates received justice.