AP: Kapu quota stir turns violent; train, police vehicles set

Kakinada/Vijayawada/Hyderabad, Feb 1: At least 15 policemen were injured today when a stir by Kapu community members seeking reservation under Backward Class category turned violent as the agitators went on rampage and set four coaches of Ratnachal Express on fire at Tuni station in East Godavari district.

Though no passenger was injured in the incident as they had alighted from the train before the bogies were set ablaze, the agitators, gathered at Tuni to attend a public meeting addressed by their leader Mudragada Padmanabh, pelted the engine of the train with stones and also attacked police personnel, before ransacking the railway station. A total of 15 policemen, including a senior district police officer, were injured in the violence.

The protest forced the authorities to stop all trains running between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stations, causing a huge inconvenience to passengers. Road traffic on national highway 16 was also disrupted due to the protests. Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said he was committed to reservation for the community.

Kovvur (AP): Rail services affected after Kapu community protesters burn down railways coaches in Tuni city pic.twitter.com/BX8af55clQ

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2016

Protesters from Kapu community, demanding BC status, block Highway in Tuni city (East Godavari district, AP) pic.twitter.com/yakkEqJ1nV

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2016

"I am committed for the reservation for Kapu community for which a Judicial Commission was also constituted," he told reporters in Vijayawada tonight. He said reservation benefits would be extended to the community without exceeding the total reservation by 50 per cent as per the decision of the Supreme Court.

All the coaches including engine are badly damaged: Ashok Kumar,DRM Vijayawada on Ratnachal exp burning in Tuni (AP) pic.twitter.com/CY1erfuK0A

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 31, 2016

However, Padmanabh accused the Chief Minister of giving "false promises" to Kapus on their inclusion in BC category. "Let the CM realise the gravity of the situation," he had said addressing the rally. The agitators also damaged police vehicles in the area and set ablaze at least two of them.

State Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R P Thakur told PTI: "They have set on fire four bogies of the train, besides damaging some police vehicles and torching two. Our people are trying to control the situation. Additional forces have been rushed to the spot."

Kapu community protesters set police station on fire in Tuni city (East Godavari district, AP) (last night visuals) pic.twitter.com/bdWAIQoPhZ

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2016

According to a senior police officer from East Godavari district, the situation was under control and peaceful and additional forces have been deployed to maintain law and order. He said the protesters attacked Tuni (Rural) police station and damaged four police vehicles, besides some private vehicles.

Were registering more than 30 cases against all misdeeds-Ravi Prakash,East Godavari SP on Kapu community protest pic.twitter.com/S5M0nCAxHP

— ANI (@ANI_news) February 1, 2016

South Central Railway General Manager Ravindra Gupta tonight held a disaster control meeting with the higher officials in Hyderabad. With several trains being regulated at various stations on the Vijayawada-Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam section, the SCR officials are making arrangements to provide food and water to passengers and attend to their medical needs. Additional RPF personnel have been deployed to provide security to railway passengers.

PTI