KTR, BRS leaders booked for alleged assault on police outside Telangana Assembly
Police in Telangana have registered a case against senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and working president K. T. Rama Rao, along with several other party leaders, for allegedly assaulting police personnel outside the Telangana legislative assembly in Hyderabad. The first information report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint from a police officer who was on duty near the assembly complex.
According to the complaint, the accused persons, along with some others, attempted to force their way through the security cordon while the assembly was in session. When personnel blocked them, the leaders allegedly pushed and struck officers, resulting in minor injuries to a constable. The complaint stated that the group used criminal force against police, disrupting their lawful duties.
The police have invoked sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing a public servant), 353 (assault to deter public servant from duty), and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty). Officials said the investigation is underway and further legal steps will follow.
Mr. Rama Rao and the BRS have denied the allegations. In a statement, the party accused the Congress-led state government of using police to target opposition leaders. BRS insisted that its protests were peaceful and that the police acted provocatively. The party said it would pursue all legal remedies to prove its innocence.
The incident highlights the rising political friction between BRS and the ruling Congress in Telangana. BRS leaders have frequently alleged that they face vindictive action from state agencies since losing power in the 2023 elections. Meanwhile, the state government has maintained that law enforcement actions are taken in accordance with the law and not based on political considerations.
Constitutional observers note that while peaceful protest is a fundamental right, maintaining public order is a responsibility of the police. In a democratic system, disputes over the use of force or the restriction of protest are best settled through independent judicial review. As the case progresses, both the accused leaders and the police are expected to present their accounts before the court, which will decide the matter on its merits.
