Telangana police on Sunday took Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh into preventive custody while he was en route to Banswada in Kamareddy district, amid heightened tensions following recent communal and political clashes in the region.
The Goshamahal MLA was intercepted by police at Peddashankarampet in Medak district and shifted to a nearby police station. Authorities described the measure as precautionary, citing the volatile situation in Banswada and Kamareddy, though no formal charges were immediately specified.
In a parallel development, Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest at his Tarnaka residence late on Saturday night, later detained and moved to Bollarum police station on Sunday morning. Rao had announced intentions to visit Banswada to meet injured party workers and assess the ground situation. He confirmed the preventive action via telephone and alleged on social media that the Congress-led government was suppressing voices supporting "Hindus of Banswada" and BJP cadres in Kamareddy.
The unrest traces back to violent clashes between BJP and Congress workers in Kamareddy town on February 20 and 21, involving stone-pelting that injured several individuals, including party activists and police personnel. A vehicle belonging to a Congress leader was reportedly overturned during the protests.
Also read: Congress, BJP workers clash in Kamareddy, several detained
The spark for the broader tensions appears linked to a Friday evening incident at a Reliance Smartbazar (Reliance Mart) in Banswada, where a dispute over playing devotional songs escalated into a communal clash. A woman employee alleged harassment by a customer who objected to the bhajans, recorded her, and demanded "item songs" instead. This led to confrontations, stone-pelting, minor vandalism, and injuries to two police constables. Police arrested 10-12 individuals, including one named Muzzamil, and registered cases for rioting.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) condemned the episode as a "planned attack on Hindus" and a violation of constitutional rights, demanding swift arrests within 24 hours or face statewide protests. The organisation framed it as part of a pattern hurting Hindu sentiments.
Separately, BJP MLA Katipalli Venkata Ramana Reddy accused Congress leaders of attempting to misuse or illegally sell land belonging to a government degree college in the area, further fuelling political animosity and contributing to the street violence.
Police have intensified deployment across Kamareddy district, with heavy forces monitoring political movements and key locations to prevent further flare-ups. Officials emphasised that preventive detentions and restrictions were essential to preserve law and order until stability returns. No additional details on specific FIRs or long-term measures were released, but security remains on high alert.
The incidents highlight simmering communal and political frictions in the region, with both sides trading allegations as authorities seek to contain the situation.
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