Telangana BJP chief arrested on charges of assaulting cops

Hyderabad: Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was arrested by Karimnagar police on January 2 during a protest, informed local police.The MP and four others have been sent in 14 days judicial remand to Karimnagar district jail.
Sanjay organised a Jagaran Deeksha in his camp office at Karimanagar town, where party cadres and leaders from across the state trooped in for the overnight protest. The 10-hour-long protest was planned to demand the state government to amend an order relating to transfer of government employees and teachers. Police had refused permission for the protest citing the orders in force banning meetings, rallies and other public gatherings.
“Despite repeated requests to abide by the Covid-19 guidelines which are in force, the MP and others went ahead with their programme violating rules and then resorted to rioting and attacked police personnel performing their duty,” said a senior police official.
"The arrest of Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay is highly condemnable and amounts to the murder of democracy. He was peacefully staging a protest following all COVID protocols in his office. Police forcibly entered his office & manhandled him," said BJP National President JP Nadda.
At least 70 people were arrested and were released after issuing notices to them. Several policemen including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and a Circle Inspector were injured in the attack, informed a police official.