Tension mounts, Police resort to lathicharge

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Nov 17 (UNI) Tension prevailed in Tadipatri town in the district for the second day today with police resorting to minor lathicharge to disperse people of a minority community, who indulged in vandalism opposing the attempt of Municipal Authorities to demolish a place of worship for road widening.

Police said the people of the community burnt the proclain brought for the demolition work and damaged certain private vehicles. They demanded an apology from Municipal Vice-Chairman J C Prabhakara Reddy and Panchayat Raj Minister's brother J C Diwakar Reddy for their alleged involvement in issuing the demolition order.

Despite SP Stephen Ravindra's assurance that the demolished portions of the place of worship would be reconstructed by the government, the people were adamant and continued with their protests.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 was promulgated in the town, police said.

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