Fasting anti-Telangana Andhra MP flees from hospital, massive hunt on

Congress MP L Rajagopal, who was on indefinite fast opposing the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday disappeared from a government-run hospital in Vijayawada allegedly to avoid being force-fed. He was under arrest.

Congress MP L Rajagopal, who is on indefinite fast opposing the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday disappeared from a government-run hospital in Vijayawada.

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The MP from Vijayawada was arrested by the police and shifted to the hospital early on Saturday from the hunger strike camp.

Police said as the hospital staff were making arrangements to shift him to a private hospital, he walked out with a friend and disappeared.

Police went on high alert in Vijayawada and launched a large scale search for the missing MP, especially on Hyderabad road as he might try to make dramatic appearance here to lodge his protest.

Eye-witnesses said the MP, who was holding national flag in his hand, came out of the hospital at around 10.10 pm with his friend and driver and sped away in a vehicle even before policemen deployed there could understand anything.

The MP, who was fasting for last six days, was unhappy with the central government for not withdrawing its statement on formation of Telangana state. The state government had also rejected his demand to shift him to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad.

The police had on Saturday booked Rajagopal for attempt to suicide after arresting him from the site where he was on the hunger strike.