Andhra Pradesh's Ruling YSR Congress, Opposition TDP's Workers Clash

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Marcherla town of Palnadu district following clashes between ruling YSR Congress workers and Telugu Desam party cadre during a rally organised by the opposition party as part of a programme.

TDP alleged that the vehicles of its leaders and houses were set on fire by YSRCP workers.

A video clip in which a mob is seen thrashing a person who fell to the ground has gone viral.

Planadu Superintendent of Police Y Ravi Sankar Reddy said the police swung into action immediately and dispersed the clashing mob.

The police conducted search operations early this morning after they received information that some of the people involved in a murder case were taking shelter in Marcharla town.

“There are faction related issues in this (clashes). These factionists join one party or the other and take support. During Idem Kharma Rashtraniki programme, people from one side tried to provoke the other party members. Also there was stone pelting.

Another party retaliated. In any angle, these clashes are not related to political differences, but faction-feud,” the SP said.

Additional forces have been deployed in the town and Section 144 has been imposed. The situation is under control, he added.

Cases will be booked against all the perpetrators and the investigation is on.

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu condemned the alleged attacks on his party workers.

“I strongly condemn the attacks of YCP goons on TDP ranks in Macharla, the incidents of setting fire to party leaders' houses and party offices. It is even worse that the police are blowing the horns of the ruling party's rowdyism.” he tweeted on Friday night.

In another tweet he questioned what the police were doing when the YSR party “ goons” were indulging in “anarchy”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)