A senior journalist from Chirala in Prakasam district was assaulted with knives and sticks by unidentified persons allegedly owing allegiance to former Telugu Desam Party MLA and presently YSR Congress party leader Amanchi Krishnamohan on Monday night.
M Nagarjuna Reddy, who runs a local vernacular magazine at Vetapalem, was returning from Ongole to Chirala, when he was assaulted by miscreants at Chinnaganjam. He was admitted to the hospital with grievous injuries.
Reddy had been to district superintendent of police office at Ongole with regard to a case of social boycott in Ramachandrapuram village of Vetapalem mandal.
The police registered a case based on Nagarjuna Reddy’s statement. Apparently, he suspected the hand of Amanchi in the attack.
Inquiries revealed that Reddy has been writing scandalous stories against Amanchi since he was in the TDP. His social media posts were full of abusive comments against the former MLA.
In fact, in 2017, Amanchi's brother Amanchi Swamulu and other aides chased down and thrashed Nagarjuna Reddy in full public view on the streets of Chirala for reportedly writing about the illegal sand mining by Amanchi.
Earlier this year, Nagarjuna Reddy had complained to district police officers seeking protection, claiming he has facing death threats from Amanchi.
The TDP leaders, who used to defend Amanchi’s illegal activities when he was in their party, have now found a reason to attack him as he had defected to the YSR Congress party before the elections. Amanchi lost to TDP’s Karanam Balaram with a narrow margin.
TDP president and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu lost no time in attacking the YSRC.
He tweeted: "If anyone exposes the corrupt practices of YSRCP, there is a situation prevailing where they may lose their lives."
"Attack on Nagarjuna Reddy is brutal. Will they attack anyone who exposes the corrupt practices? If he was really attacked while coming back after giving a representation to the SP, what are the police doing?" he asked.
