Telangana Politician Allegedly Attempts Suicide After Police Raid At Home

High drama prevailed at Grand Alliance candidate Vanteru Pratap Reddy's Hyderabad home last night after he allegedly attempted suicide following a police raid.

Mr Reddy is contesting Telangana elections from Gajwel constituency on a People's Front assembly ticket. Gajwel is the constituency from where TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao is seeking re-election.

The police had come to carry out searches but Mr Reddy and his supporters resisted. The police said that Mr Reddy tried to pour petrol on himself while Mr Reddy alleged that police tried to kill him.

Senior police officer PV Padmaja said, "We received a complaint that some illegal activity of distributing liquor and money is going on at Vanteru Pratap Reddy's house. A checking was then conducted".

"Pratap Reddy along with his supporters came and started misbehaving with officials and he poured petrol on himself, tried to attempt suicide and created drama. There was nothing found and seized from his residence," he added.

Mr Reddy, however, alleged that the police barged into his residence and tried to kill him by setting him ablaze.

The police said that if the flying squad lodges a complaint, action will be initiated on Mr Reddy's supporters for misbehaving and abusing the officials.

On Sunday, Mr Reddy had gone to the office of the returning officer to complain about illegal surveillance and harassment, after which he sat on a dharna outside the office. The police forcibly removed him after which he was shifted to Yashoda hospital in Hyderabad.

Security has been beefed up in the state of Telangana for assembly elections. Election Commission has directed law enforcement agencies to maintain a strict vigil on all illegal activities.

The Telangana Assembly elections are scheduled to be held on December 7 to elect representatives of 119 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.