Harish Rao, BRS leaders arrested en route to Parigi

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Police on Tuesday arrested BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao along with several other BRS leaders at TSPA Junction in Narsingi while they were en route to Parigi to engage with protesting farmers.

The BRS delegation had planned to meet with farmers and express solidarity against the acquisition of 1,200 acres of land in the Parigi mandal intended for a proposed industrial park project.

Accompanied by former ministers P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Harish Rao, along with various BRS leaders, encountered police obstruction in Vikarabad district as they were traveling to Parigi. The police intercepted the convoy at TSPA Junction, hindering their progress. As police attempted to detain Harish Rao, protests erupted among BRS supporters, resulting in a contentious exchange and a tense standoff at the location.

Ultimately, despite the protests, the police proceeded to arrest Harish Rao and others, although they did not provide prior information regarding the location of the police station to which they were being taken. Rather than being taken to the nearby Narsingi police station, the BRS leaders were redirected to Shamshabad via the Outer Ring Road (ORR). In response, BRS supporters conducted sit-in protests and obstructed the roadway at TSPA Junction to oppose the detentions of their senior leadership.

These arrests coincided with widespread restrictions imposed upon BRS leaders. Earlier that same day, Harish Rao, Sabitha Indra Reddy, and numerous leaders from the former Ranga Reddy district had been placed under house arrest. Additionally, former Pargi MLA Koppula Mahesh Reddy was detained and transported to a police facility, while party leader Shubhaprad Patel was also taken into custody.

Earlier in the day, the police had also stationed a significant presence outside Harish Rao's residence in Hyderabad to prevent him from departing for Parigi in support of the farmers' protests.