A former YSRCP MLA was today arrested for allegedly provoking the party activists who damaged property at Tehsildar office in Rapthadu mandal after the murder of party leader Prasada Reddy on the premises of the office, police said.
B. Gurunath Reddy had allegedly instigated the party activists who were agitated following the brutal murder of Prasada Reddy last month.
The ex-MLA was apprehended from his residence in Hyderabad by the Anantapur police and is being brought here.
Meanwhile, Reddy has denied the charges against him.
"I have been accused of instigating the riots after the murder. However, the fact is that there were more than 50 police personnel, including two DSP rank officers, at the (murder) spot by the time I reached there. It is their inability to control the situation and anybody present at the spot can easily make out that the outrage was sudden and spontaneous and none could instigate the crowd in front of a posse of policemen", he told reporters.
He alleged that police are deliberately harassing YSRCP leaders.
Police also arrested party leader Topudurthi Chandrasekhar Reddy in connection with the case.
Prasada Reddy (42) was killed brutally in broad daylight at the Tahsildar's office by his opponents at MRO office.
After the incident, YSRCP leaders and activists had stormed the Tahsildar's office and broke the furniture and window panes. They alleged that the Telugu Desam Party leaders were behind the attack.
