CPI stages dharna, MP and other leaders arrested

Hyderabad, July 6 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) National Council member S Sudhakar Reddy, MP, and other party leaders were today arrested while staging a dharna, demanding the release of CPI State Secretary K Narayana, who was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in Eluru on a charge of attacking a Revenue official yesterday.

The CPI leaders and activists led by Mr Reddy took out a procession from the party office to press their demand for the release of Mr Narayana. The security forces obstructed the procession from proceeding towards the city police Commissioner's office.

Police arrested Mr Reddy and other party leaders and sent them to Goshalmahal stadium.

Earlier, Mr Reddy alleged that the government had arrested Mr Narayana to ''suppress'' the land occupation struggle, launched by the Left parties, demanding that the Government distribute agricultural lands and house sites to the poor.

UNI