Former MLA and BRS Leader Balka Suman Arrested in Telangana Stone-Pelting Case
In a significant development in Telangana, Ramagundam police on Wednesday arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former MLA Balka Suman along with three of his associates. The arrests are directly linked to an alleged stone-pelting incident that targeted the convoy of Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy at Kyathanpally.
Judicial Custody and Police Action
All four accused were promptly produced before a local court in Mancherial district following their arrest. The court subsequently ordered their judicial remand, sending them to Adilabad prison. The arrests came after Ramakrishnapur police registered two separate cases late on Tuesday against Suman and other BRS activists.
The charges stem from allegations that the accused not only blocked the minister's convoy but also launched a stone-pelting attack during the crucial municipal chairman and vice-chairman election process.
Details of the Arrests and Injuries
Police Commissioner Ambar Kishor Jha provided critical details about the operation and its consequences. Balka Suman was arrested from his residence in Kyathanpally, an action that sparked protests by BRS workers in the area.
The three other individuals taken into custody include Mula Raji Reddy, Anil, and Ramidi Laxmikanth, all arrested from their respective homes in Mancherial district. Commissioner Jha confirmed that during the incident, Constable D. Rakesh sustained a grievous head injury and is currently undergoing surgery at a hospital in Secunderabad.
Police Complaint and Sequence of Events
The first case was initiated based on a formal complaint filed by Sub-Inspector A. Gangaram of Devapur police station. According to his statement, his team was performing bandobust duty at the Kyathanpally flyover when Suman and his supporters arrived in multiple vehicles.
"When I did not permit the vehicles to enter Kyathanpally, they engaged in prolonged arguments with me," stated SI Gangaram. "During this confrontation, Minister Vivek and MP Gaddam Vamshi arrived en route to the municipal office to cast their ex-officio votes. At that moment, Suman and the other accused began shouting slogans against Congress functionaries and proceeded to hurl stones."
The stone-pelting resulted in serious injuries to two police personnel. Besides Constable Rakesh's head injury, Sub-Inspector S. Rajashekar of Kothapalli police station suffered a finger injury during the violent episode.
Legal Charges and Second Complaint
Based on SI Gangaram's complaint, police have booked Balka Suman and seven others under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The charges include:
- Unlawful assembly
- Rioting
- Rioting with deadly weapons
- Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty
- Disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant
A second case was registered following a complaint by Gopu Raja, a 50-year-old Congress supporter from Ramakrishnapur. Raja alleged that Suman and other BRS activists not only damaged the minister's vehicle during the attack but also assaulted a local Congress worker named Javid.
The incident highlights the tense political atmosphere surrounding municipal elections in Telangana and raises serious concerns about political violence targeting public officials and law enforcement personnel during electoral processes.
