Vijayawada: The police increased security at major junctions in the city after disparaging remarks made by a YSR Congress trade union leader against the late Kapu strongman Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao and his brother Radhakrishna led to protests by the family and their subsequent arrest.

Mr Gowtham Reddy told a TV channel that there was “nothing wrong in killing” Radha and Ranga, and compared them to snakes. He said his opinion would not change even if Mr Malladi Vishnu, a Congress leader and liquor businessman, were to join the YSRC.

Mr Gowtham Reddy said he would not shout slogans in support of Mr Radha-krishna Rao Jr, the son of Ranga Rao, who joined the YSRC in 2012.
Following the interview, tension prevailed at Mohan Ranga Rao’s house at Moghalrajpuram when the police tried to prevent Mr Radhakrishna Jr and his mother from going out to conduct a press conference on Mr Gowtham Reddy’s remarks. ACP Satyanandam and Machavaram CI Uma Maheswara Rao and others requested them not to leave the house considering the tense situation in the city. When they tried to leave the house, the police personnel formed a human wall to block them. They tried to break their way through and Ms Ratnakumari lost consciousness for a short time and Mr Radhakrishna fell down and his shirt buttons were pulled off. Following this, police arrested both of them. They continued their protest at the Ibrahimpatnam police station opposing their arrest. Mr Radhakrishna refused to enter the police station and sat on floor, demanding that that police explain why they had arrested him.