Karimnagar : A protest led by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy at Huzurabad’s Ambedkar Chowrasta spiraled into intense confrontation on Friday, as hundreds of activists gathered to demand the release of second-phase Dalit Bandhu funds. The MLA’s protest, conducted without official permission, escalated when a large crowd assembled at the busy intersection, prompting a heavy police response.
Kaushik Reddy, along with several BRS leaders and supporters, was detained by the police as they tried to block their march. The situation quickly became chaotic when the MLA collapsed due to health issues during the detention. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Despite the escalating tension, Reddy urged local constituents to apply for Dalit Bandhu benefits, announcing that many applications had already been submitted.
The protestors, demanding the Congress-led state government release the second-phase funds, had gathered in large numbers at Ambedkar Chowrasta. BRS leaders and activists actively participated in the demonstration, which resulted in a tense standoff with police officers from Huzurabad and Jammikunta.
In the ensuing verbal confrontation, police attempted to control the situation by escorting the protestors, including the MLA and Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries, into police vans. This triggered a physical altercation between the police and protestors. The situation grew more complicated as the lack of female officers delayed the arrest of women protestors. Subsequently, female constables were called in to handle the situation, and several women protestors were arrested.
The protest caused a major traffic jam on the national highway between Warangal and Karimnagar, with vehicles unable to move for nearly an hour due to the road blockade. The clash highlighted the ongoing political tension surrounding the Dalit Bandhu scheme and the demands for its expansion.
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