A fire broke out in Amalapuram town on Tuesday after the newly-created Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district was renamed as BR Ambedkar Konaseema district. YSR Congress MLA P Satish’s house was torched during the protest. While the ruling party blamed unidentified forces for the arson, all opposition parties hit out at the “gross failure” of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government to control the situation. To control the situation, the police lathi-charged the people, in which the policemen were injured. Later, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were imposed in the area.
All you need to know:
- Trouble began when the police allegedly prevented the leaders of the Konaseema Sadhana Samiti from going to the district collector’s office to submit a memorandum against the renaming of the district and resorted to lathi-charge.
- The committee was opposing the proposal to rename the newly created Konaseema district as BR Ambedkar Konseema district.
- As soon as the police tried to disperse the leaders and workers of the committee, stone pelting started. As trouble broke out, shops in the town downed their shutters, while protesters reportedly created a ruckus and first set a school bus on fire.
- Later they went to Transport Minister Vishwaroopu’s house and set it on fire.
- More than 20 policemen were injured during the demonstration. State Home Minister Vanitha said, “It is unfortunate that more than 20 policemen have been injured in this incident. We will investigate the incident thoroughly and take action against the culprits.”
- Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were imposed in Amalapuram.
- On 4 April, the new Konaseema district was carved out of the erstwhile East Godavari.
- Last week, the state government issued a preliminary notification demanding renaming of Konaseema as BR Ambedkar Konseema district and invited objections, if any, from the people.
- The Konaseema Sadhana Samiti objected to the proposed nomenclature of the district and wanted the Konseema name to be retained.
- The committee staged a sit-in on Tuesday and demanded to submit a memorandum to District Magistrate Himanshu Shukla against the change of name.