Telangana United Front (TUF) leader Vimalakka was arrested by the Banjara Hills police Monday for her alleged role in damaging a statue of former chief minister Kasu Brahmananda Reddy in Hyderabad last week. The arrest sparked off protests among pro-Telangana groups.
Hours after her arrest, the court granted her conditional bail and released her from the Chanchalguda prison. Vimalakka had been picked up from her residence at Domalguda earlier in the morning and taken to the Banjara Hills police station.
Tension prevailed at the police station as a few Telangana supporters gathered there and picketed the premises demanding her release.
Later, amid tight security, Vimalakka was produced before a magistrate and remanded in custody at Chanchalguda till Oct. 8.
Around 2.30 pm, Vimalakka’s advocate filed a petition in court seeking bail for her. Police filed a counter petition opposing bail, stating that the activist might instigate violence during the Telangana March to be held on Sept. 30. The statue at KBR park was damaged on Sept. 17, billed as Hyderabad Liberation Day. A group of persons poured petrol on the statue and set it on fire, and left behind some pamphlets bearing the logo Telangana United Front. The statue was damaged partially.
‘’Some youngsters came to the spot on bikes and began to pour petrol on the statue. A constable and a home guard who were posted at the KBR Park outpost tried to prevent them. The youngsters manhandled the police and set it on fire,’’ police officials said.
Police had registered cases against the miscreants under sections 147 ( Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 335 ( Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation) of IPC and three Preventive Detention (PD) Acts.
TJAC president Prof Kodandaram condemned the arrest of Vimalakka. “The government is looking at the Telangana issue as a law and order problem. The government should change its stand,’’ Kodandaram said.
TJAC said it would meet home minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy to look into the issue. Protests were also held at RTC crossroads.