Mob attacks police, many injured

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, MAY 31. Over a dozen constables, a sub-inspector and a circle inspector were injured when a crazy mob attacked them during a `record-dance' programme at Bethapudi village of Vedullapalli police station limits in the wee hours of Thursday.

The unruly mob, in an inebriated condition, set a police jeep on fire. The police resorted to a lathicharge and opened over 30 rounds of fire into the air to quell the mobs and prevent the situation from slipping out of control.

Thousands of people thronged Bethapudi village for `Eedulamma Jathara' on Wednesday evening. The crowds swelled as the day passed. The village goddess festivals in Guntur district are usually marked by pomp, gaiety and fervour - religious and otherwise. Consumption of liquor and erotic `record-dances' form part of such festivities. `Eedulamma Jathara' was no different. Thousands of youths consumed cheap liquor and were dancing in a drunken state at the festival venue. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. P. V. Kanna Rao, the Bapatla CI, Mr. G. Penchala Naidu, over 10 sub-inspectors and 60 constables were organising the bandobust at Bethapudi. The Superintendent of Police, Mr. J. Purnachandra Rao, said that the former MLA of Bapatla, Mr. Chirala Govardhana Reddy, and another leader, Mr. Nalam Krishna Rao, went there and provoked the youths to climb on to a `prabha' (a high mast structure decorated with colour papers and coloured lights). When the police tried to prevent the youth from climbing on to the `prabha' as it was dangerous, the youths attacked the police by hurling stones at them.

The mobs, in an inebriated condition, surrounded the police and beat them up with `survy' sticks causing bleeding injuries to over a dozen policemen.

The police tried to bring the situation to normal by resorting to a lathicharge. Even as the lathicharge was continuing, a head constable, Mr. Somaiah of Cherukupalli police station, was hit on his head with an axe causing a serious injury. The sub-inspector, Mr. Jayaprasad, sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital. The mobs threw stones and hurt the CI, Mr. Penchala Naidu.

Sensing trouble, the police opened over 30 rounds of fire into the air. The SP said that none was injured in the firing. The police arrested 62 persons, including 53 women, for bid to organise a rasta roko.

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