CPI(M) take out rally against arrests, section 144 clamped

Vijayawada, May 18 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today took out a rally through the main thoroughfares of the city in protest against the arrest of party leaders and activists, in connection with the 'bhooporatam' (land struggle) here for the past three days.

As many as 600 party activists led by CPM District Secretary Umamaheswara Rao participated in the rally, which commenced from the party office Sundariah Bhavan and culminated at Lenin Centre.

Mr Rao strongly condemned the lathicharge and arrests of around 50 activists, including party State Committee member C H Babu Rao and city Secretary Raghu when they occupied the endowment and wakf lands at four places here.

Meanwhile, Mr Babu Rao and others, who were remanded to 14-day judicial custody by the First Class Magistrate Court here were shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail yesterday.

Official sources told UNI that Krishna District Administration had clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 CRPC near the government lands.

The order, effective from May 16 would be in force for two months and applied to the area within the radius of 200 metres of any government land.

All Station House Officers (SHOs) in the district were directed to implement the order expeditiously, the sources said.

UNI