Violence In Andhra Over Renaming Konaseema; Houses Of Minister, MLA Set On Fire

New Delhi: The houses of Andhra Pradesh Minister Pinipe Vishwaroop and MLA Ponnada Satish were set on fire on Tuesday as protests against renaming Konaseema district turned violent.

The state government led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to change the name of the district to BR Ambedkar.

The police were reportedly unable to control the protesters, who went straight to the minister and stormed into his house. The agitators destroyed furniture inside the house and set it on fire. Further, three cars parked in the premises were also set ablaze.

Alerted beforehand that the angry protesters were headed towards his house, Vishwaroop and his family members fled. The minister, who was in Amalapuram, was taken to a safe place by the police. The family members, who were in the house, were also evacuated immediately.

Andhra Minister Pinipe Vishwaroop’s house set on fire by protesters. (Screengrab: India Ahead Network)At least three RTC buses were destroyed near Vishwaroop’s house and protesters hurled stones at police, injuring some policemen. The problem was exacerbated by the limited number of police officers who could not control the protesters. Prohibitory orders under section 144 were being enforced, said Superintendent of Police Subba Reddy.

Vishwaroop condemned the attack on his house and said the Chief Minister had not arbitrarily announced the decision to change the name of Konaseema district and all parties had widely demanded change. He said the Janasena, led by Pawan Kalyan, had demanded that the district be named after BR Ambedkar, which was also backed by TDP leader and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Andhra Minister Pinipe Vishwaroop’s house set on fire by protesters. (Screengrab: India Ahead Network)Following the incidents of arson, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Taneti Vanitha said Konaseema is being renamed Ambedkar district by the will of the people. Vanitha and Vishwaroop alleged that some miscreants were deliberately trying to provoke riots. The Home Minister said action will be taken against the miscreants.

Film star and politician Pawan Kalyan also called for calm.

Angry protesters against renaming Konaseema district burn a bus in Andhra Pradesh. (Screengrab: India Ahead Network)On April 4, the new Konaseema district was carved out of the erstwhile East Godavari. Last week, the state government issued a preliminary notification seeking to rename it as B R Ambedkar Konaseema district and invited objections, if any, from the people.

In this backdrop, the Konaseema Sadhana Samiti objected to the proposed renaming of the district and wanted the name Konaseema to be retained.

Police and security forces try to control the angry protesters. (Screengrab: India Ahead Network)The Samiti organised a protest on Tuesday near the district Collector’s office and sought to submit a memorandum to Collector Himanshu Shukla against the renaming. Police tried to foil the protest, which apparently infuriated the protestors and eventually led to the violence.