Hyderabad erupted in political fervor on Sunday as Telangana Police took BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao into custody. The dramatic intervention came just as Rao attempted to travel from Hyderabad to Banswada in Kamareddy district, the site of recent communal clashes that have ignited statewide tensions.
Rao had been under virtual house arrest since Saturday night. When he made a bold move to head out Sunday morning toward the troubled town, law enforcement swiftly detained him. Supporters gathered outside his Taranaka residence, protesting vehemently against the police action. Amid the chaos, authorities arrested several demonstrators before escorting Rao to Bollaram police station.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Rao vowed to stand by BJP MLA K. Venkata Ramana Reddy, who allegedly faced an attack. He accused authorities of rounding up nearly 100 BJP workers during a bandh called by Hindu organizations in Banswada. ‘This is nothing short of an emergency in Telangana,’ Rao declared on social media post-detention, claiming his arrest stemmed from voicing support for Hindu victims and local activists.
The spark for the unrest traces back to Friday evening in Banswada. Trouble brewed when a young man objected to devotional songs playing in a supermarket. Allegedly, staff assaulted him, escalating into a full-blown clash between communities. Stones flew, injuring two police officers. In response, extra forces were deployed, and police registered riot cases, apprehending 12 individuals.
As Telangana’s Congress government faces mounting criticism, this incident underscores deepening divides. BJP leaders warn of targeted suppression, while officials maintain the measures ensure public order. The coming days will reveal if this detention fuels broader confrontations or restores calm in Kamareddy.