Manuguru, a town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, was gripped by tension on Sunday following an alleged attack by local Congress activists. The group reportedly stormed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) mandal office, destroyed its furniture, and set BRS flags and banners on fire.
Incensed Congress members forcefully entered the BRS office, known as ‘Telangana Bhavan,’ amidst loud slogans. They caused significant damage, dragging office furniture outside and igniting it in front of the building. Waving Congress flags, the activists vociferously asserted their party’s claim to the property.
Swiftly, they replaced the BRS flag with their own and rechristened the building ‘Indiramma Bhavan,’ painting its exterior in the distinctive Congress party colors.
This particular building has long been a source of intense conflict between the local Congress and BRS units, with both parties persistently asserting their ownership.
According to local Congress leaders, the property rightfully belongs to their party, having been donated by a staunch Congress supporter. This claim had previously fueled several protests by the Congress mandal unit during the tenure of the former BRS government.
The Congress mandal unit alleges that former Pinapaka MLA Rega Kantha Rao transformed the building into a BRS party office after his defection. Mr. Kantha Rao, who won on a Congress ticket in 2018 before switching to BRS, has strongly denied these accusations, despite having used the contested ‘Congress office’ as his BRS base.
Footage circulating widely on social media captures the enraged crowd physically assaulting an individual, reportedly a BRS office worker.
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, alongside former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, vehemently denounced the incident, labeling it ‘gundagiri’ (hooliganism). They accused the ruling Congress party of engaging in retaliatory politics, driven by the anticipated outcome of the upcoming Jubilee Hills byelection.
In response to the escalating situation, authorities in Manuguru have promptly enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These measures aim to avert further disturbances, safeguard public safety, and maintain peace within the town until further notice.