This story is from April 12, 2019

2 killed in AP violence as leaders, cadre clash

2 killed in AP violence as leaders, cadre clash
Vijayawada: Election in AP turned violent on Thursday as clashes between TDP and rival YSRCP left two persons dead and scores wounded. The election commission said over 20 incidents of violence were reported across the state. Voting remained suspended in Allagadda assembly seat till last reports and police had to fire in air to disperse YSRCP and TDP workers.
Tourism minister B Akhila Priya is contesting from Allagadda. In Vijayawada-West MLA Jaleel Khan was taken into custody for attacking YSRCP workers.
The two dead included YSRCP activist Venkataramanappa who was killed during a clash between TDP and YSRCP workers at T Sadum village in Thamballapalle assembly constituency in Chittoor district. Sadum happens to be native village of TDP MLA G Shankar. In the other incident, TDP worker Chinta Bhaskar Reddy died as YSRCP and TDP workers clashed with sticks and stones at Veerapuram village in Anantapur district.
In the clash, YSRCP worker Pulla Reddy received severe head injuries and his condition is said to be critical. Bhaskar is a follower of TDP MP JC Diwakar Reddy.
Naidu wrote a letter to AP chief electoral officer Gopal Krishna Dwivedi after the death of the TDP leader in clashes in Anantapur district. He alleged that YSRCP election agents and poll agents resorted to largescale violence resulting in the death of Bhaskar. In another letter addressed to DGP R P Thakur, Naidu said a number of complaints were received from the contesting candidates and polling agents about violent incidents. He alleged YSRC leaders obstructed the polling process and resorted to violence in Kadapa, Anantapur, Kurnool and Nellore districts. In certain cases, they damaged the polling material like EVMs and threatened the polling personnel to allow them to rig the votes, he said.
Naidu further added that controlling law and order situation is immediate necessity and requested the DGP to instruct all district superintendents of police to take stringent measures to bring the culprits to the book. Naidu also submitted a list of places where violent incidents were reported across the state.
Clashes between TDP and YSRCP workers first erupted in Palnadu region of Guntur district and parts of Rayalaseema, amid news that the YSRCP candidate was kidnapped in Chittoor district. YSRCP candidate MS Babu in Puthalapattu was kidnapped allegedly by TDP workers. In Narasaraopet assembly segment, YSRCP MLA and candidate G Srinivasa Reddy also received injuries. Two contesting candidates in Guntur and Anantapur districts damaged the electronic voting machines (EVMs) by hurling them on the ground. Incidents of stone-pelting and attack by lathis were reported from Kurnool district also.

Soon after polling began at 7 am, workers from both parties engaged in heated argument and clashed with each other. Police resorted to mild lathicharge at a few places to disperse the mob. Both TDP and YSRCP traded charges of rigging and violation of model code of conduct as complaints and counter complaints were lodged with the EC.
Assembly Speaker and Sattenapalle candidate K Sivaprasada Rao was among the candidates injured in attacks by rivals. Rao entered a polling station and shut it from inside, before police intervened and brought him out. Tourism minister B Akhila Priya’s husband Bhargav and sister Mounika were injured in Allagadda in Kurnool district.
In Vijayawada, TDP leader and MLC Buddha Venkanna was taken into custody after he staged a dharna over malfunction of EVMs.
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