Hyderabad: Former Minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao was placed under house arrest by police on Tuesday to prevent his visit to Parigi to meet protesting farmers.
Police deployed heavy forces outside his residence in Hyderabad from early morning. As a result, they stopped him from leaving for Kallapur in Vikarabad district.
Harish Rao had planned to meet farmers opposing land acquisition for an industrial park. He also intended to express solidarity with those protesting against land loss.
Harish Rao stopped visiting Parigi as tensions rose
Meanwhile, police imposed restrictions on BRS leaders to block their outreach to affected farmers. Consequently, authorities confined several leaders to their homes to prevent mobilisation.
Police also placed former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy under house arrest along with other leaders from the undivided Rangareddy district. In addition, authorities arrested former Parigi MLA Koppula Mahesh Reddy and shifted him to a police station.
Further, police detained BRS leader Shubhaprad Patel during the operation. Therefore, the move triggered sharp reactions from party leaders.
Harish Rao questioned the arrests and said the government was suppressing democratic rights. He also alleged that authorities were preventing opposition leaders from supporting farmers.
He said the government failed to address farmers’ concerns over land acquisition. At the same time, he criticised the police action as undemocratic.
Tension prevailed in the Parigi constituency as police maintained a heavy presence. Meanwhile, authorities stepped up security to prevent any untoward incidents.
మాజీ మంత్రి @BRSHarish గారు హౌస్ అరెస్ట్.. పరిగి పర్యటనకు వెళ్లకుండా అడ్డగింత.
ఇండస్ట్రియల్ పార్క్ బాధిత రైతులను కలిసేందుకు వెళ్లకుండా బీఆర్ఎస్ నేతలపై ఆంక్షలు.
హరీశ్ రావు నివాసం వద్ద భారీగా మోహరించిన పోలీస్ బలగాలు.
మాజీ మంత్రి సబితా ఇంద్రారెడ్డి గారు, పలువురు ఉమ్మడి… pic.twitter.com/sMXVrP1nvU
— Office of Harish Rao (@HarishRaoOffice) April 7, 2026