Panel to probe firing by Surekha gunmen

The gunmen of Mr Jagan’s loyalists, Ms Konda Sureka and Mr Konda Murali, retaliated and started firing indiscriminately injuring 12 persons. One of them, Bondakola Paul Raju, 20, has slipped into coma at MGM Hospital.

Late in the evening, the Warangal Range DIG, Mr Jitender, constituted a committee headed by the Yellandu (Khammam) DSP, Mr Tirupathi Reddy, to carry out a probe into the indiscriminate firing by the gunmen.

Meanwhile, Jagan’s train was halted for more than two hours at Vangapally station in Nalgonda district to prevent further violence.

The Chief Minister, Mr Rosaiah, was briefed about the developments at Mahbubabad and on his instructions, the Bhongir DSP, Mr Narayana Rao, with a heavy police contingent, reached Vangapally station around 12.30 pm, entered the C-1 coach of the train and told Mr Jagan that he was being taken into preventive custody.

Though Mr Jagan protested initially, he was pacified by the DCP (Task Force), Mr Kamalasan Reddy, and was taken to Bhongir police station and later to Hyderabad.

Mr Jagan, talking to mediapersons after coming out of the train, alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti was indulging in “murder”’ politics and had indulged in an act of terror in the Mahbubabad railway station.

He alleged that senior TRS and Telangana Joint Action Committee leaders including Mr Harish Rao, Mr Etela Rajender and Prof. Kodandaram, had come to Mahabubabad to foment trouble.

“Is it not my responsibility to visit the families of those who died of shock after the death of my father in a copter crash?” Mr Jagan asked in a choked voice, while lashing out at the TRS for its objection to his tour. “Have I ever spoken one word on politics during my earlier tours?”