Cops arrest Naidu, foil his Vizag tour

Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s attempt to tour Pendurthi area of Visakhapatnam and make a big political issue out of alleged grabbing of assigned land was foiled by the police and YSR Congress party workers on Thursday.

Amidst high tension at Visakhapatnam airport, the police took Naidu into preventive custody under Section 151 of Criminal Procedure Code and shifted him back to the airport. They confined him to the VIP lounge.

The police said they would not allow him to leave the longue, till the situation comes under control. Naidu and his party leaders would be sent back to Vijayawada by next flight, sources said.

Naidu made a desperate attempt to drive into the city, but his convoy was blocked by thousands of YSR Congress party workers, who hurled slippers, eggs and tomatoes at him. They raised slogans against him and demanded that he should go back.

The TDP chief, who remained in the car for over two hours, got down and tried to walk but the police stopped him from moving further. In protest, he squatted on the road for a long time. He questioned why he was being stopped from going further.

“I will not succumb to any pressures and will go ahead with my tour. If the police want, they can fire at me or kill me in encounter,” he thundered.

But the police did not allow him to make any further moves and finally took him into custody before shifting him back into the airport.