3 commit suicide in AP after Naidu's arrest

There were three suicides in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday on account of the arrest of Telugu Desam Party head N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 of his colleagues by the Maharashtra police. Ashok Das reports.

There were three suicides in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday on account of the arrest of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) head N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 of his colleagues by the Maharashtra police.

HT Image

The TDP, the main opposition party in the state, has called a bandh (shutdown) on Monday to protest against the alleged ill-treatment to Naidu and other legislators by the Maharashtra government, headed by Congressman Ashok Chavan.

The CPI and the CPI(M) are supporting the bandh.

Naidu had gone to Maharashtra to protest against a Godavari river project, which he said was depriving his state of its share of water.

This emotive issue has implications for the Congress-ruled government of Andhra Pradesh because there will be polls in 12 assembly seats in the Telangana region later this month.

The three TDP activists who committed suicide were Wilson Raju, Srimu Naik and Jalamaiah. Party workers turned violent in parts of the state.

"Why should we seek bail? We did not violate any law. Naidu and other leaders were in Andhra Pradesh territory when Maharashtra government officials invited them with a promise that a few of them will be taken to the dam site. Instead of taking them to the site, the police arrested them..." party spokesperson MV Mysura Reddy told HT.

Ignoring the request of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart K Rosaiah to allow Chandrababu Naidu to visit the Babhli irrigation project site, Maharashtra Chief Minister appealed the TDP chief to return to his state.

"I have requested Chandrababu to return to Andhra Pradesh as the situation in the area is very sensitive," Chavan said.