YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy booked over Punganur nomination centre clashes

Punganur, Andhra Pradesh: Tension prevailed in Punganur on Saturday after police registered cases against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Rajampet Member of Parliament P.V. Midhun Reddy and others in connection with clashes at a nomination centre on Friday.

Police deployed a heavy force in the town to prevent any further untoward incidents. They said three cases were registered in connection with the disturbances reported during the filing of nominations for local body elections.

Officials were examining CCTV footage and other visuals of the clashes, the police said. Based on video evidence, 70 persons allegedly involved in the clashes have been identified so far. Special teams have been formed to trace and apprehend those involved.

“Patrolling has been intensified and the situation is under control,” the police added.

The police did not immediately provide further details about what triggered the clashes or whether anyone was injured. They also did not name the other accused in the cases. They did not say whether the MP had been questioned or arrested. Officials said the investigation was at an early stage and more people could be identified as the footage was reviewed. The police said they were examining all available evidence.

The police did not immediately disclose the sections under which the cases were registered. In Indian legal usage, being booked means the police have registered a case. It is not a finding of guilt. The investigation will determine the course of the case, and those named will have the opportunity to respond in accordance with law.

The filing of nominations is a formal stage in the local body election process. Nomination centres are designated places where candidates submit their papers to election officials. The police said they were treating the disturbances as a law-and-order matter and were gathering video evidence to identify those responsible. Additional personnel had been deployed to maintain order, they said.

Local bodies are the first level of elected government in India. Elections to them are conducted by state election authorities, and the police are responsible for law and order at nomination centres and polling stations. Local body elections are a key part of grassroots democracy, and the nomination process is meant to allow candidates to file papers in a peaceful atmosphere. The police said patrolling would continue in sensitive areas and that they were monitoring the situation closely.

The police said 70 persons had been identified from video evidence. Identifying suspects from footage is a preliminary step; it does not by itself establish guilt. The police will need to gather further evidence before deciding on the next steps in the investigation.

Special teams formed to trace those involved will review the footage, collect statements and coordinate with local officials, the police said. They did not say how many teams had been formed or whether any arrests had been made.

No further untoward incidents had been reported until Saturday evening, the police said. The investigation was continuing. The cases against the MP and others will be investigated according to law. A case being registered does not amount to a finding of guilt, and all those named have the right to a fair investigation and trial.