Tension prevailed for some time in displaced villages around Mallanna Sagar in Gajwel municipality on Saturday when scores of residents allegedly attacked a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) campaign vehicle involved in a municipal election campaign, prompting police intervention.
According to sources, the protesters, many of whom were displaced by the Mallanna Sagar project, accused the previous BRS government of causing considerable hardship and loss during the construction of the reservoir. Angry residents blocked the convoy and “damaged” the party vehicle while raising slogans against the BRS leadership.
They held former Irrigation Minister and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao responsible for their plight and said he should not enter their colonies for campaigning. On learning about the incident, local Congress cadres reached the spot and expressed solidarity with the agitating families, leading to a confrontation between supporters of both the parties. The clash escalated as the leaders of the two groups attacked each other with slippers and shouted slogans, adding to the tension that was already rife in the area.
Published – 07 Feb 2026 21:04 IST