Hyderabad: Officials removed the Peddi Sudarshan Reddy statue in Narsampet, Warangal district, at midnight amid heavy police security.
The statue stood in front of the Medical College in Narsampet. Police secured the area during the operation and restricted access to nearby locations.
Meanwhile, authorities stopped people from entering the surrounding areas. They also deployed additional forces across Narsampet as tension continued in the constituency.
Police also arrested key BRS leaders across the Narsampet constituency. The arrests came as party leaders opposed the removal of the statue and gathered around the issue.
In addition, authorities restricted cellphone use among police personnel during the operation. Officials took the measure as security arrangements intensified around the statue site.
The dispute had also involved an earlier attempt to install the statue on private land. At that time, authorities blocked the installation despite the land being privately owned.
Peddi Sudarshan Reddy statue dispute drew BRS protest
BRS leaders questioned the authorities over the earlier restrictions. They asked, “What’s the point of installing a statue on private land?”
However, the leaders later warned police that they would pursue legal action over the issue. Following that warning, police backed down from their earlier position, according to the source.
The latest removal again triggered tension in Narsampet. Officials carried out the operation at midnight while maintaining a heavy security presence around the Medical College.
Peddi Sudarshan Reddy was a Telangana activist and former MLA from Narsampet. His statue had become the focus of a dispute between authorities and BRS leaders over its installation.
The latest action placed the Peddi Sudarshan Reddy statue issue at the centre of renewed political tension in the constituency. Additional police deployment remained part of the security arrangements as officials restricted movement around the area.