Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader P Sheshagiri Rao was attacked with a sickle by an unknown assailant in Tuni in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district on Thursday, November 17. The assailant came to Sheshagiri’s house dressed as a swami seeking alms. While Sheshagiri was handing over rice to the swami, he took out a sickle and landed multiple blows on the TDP leader. The attack was caught on a CCTV camera. He sustained grievous injuries in the attack.
According to Kakinada superintendent of police (SP) M Ravindranath Babu, the incident took place around 6:45 am on Thursday morning. “Sheshagiri was donating alms when the assailant took out a knife and attacked him. He received deep cuts on his left hand while trying to defend himself. He has also suffered minor injuries to his fingers and head. Sheshagiri then chased the attacker, but he fled with another unidentified person who was waiting outside the house,” The SP said. By the time his family members heard the cries and rushed out, the attacker had fled the scene. The SP further added,” A case has been registered. Four special teams, headed by an additional superintendent of police (ASP), have been deployed. CCTV footage is being assessed and a forensic team has also been deployed at the crime scene.”
The TDP leader has been admitted to a corporate hospital in Tuni. Former ministers and TDP leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Chinna Rajappa called on Sheshagiri at the hospital. TDP has blamed supporters of the Minister of Roads and Buildings Dadisetti Raja for the attack.
#CCTv :
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) November 17, 2022
Attacker came dressed as holyman, seeking alms, suddenly took out weapon and attacked #TeluguDesamParty leader #PolnatiSeshagiriRao on head & neck, grievously injuring him, then escaped on bike, in #Tuni of #Kakinada dist.#AndhraPradesh #TDP pic.twitter.com/80BLUTGE2F
TDP's Andhra Pradesh unit president K Atchannaidu condemned the attempt on Sheshagiri’s life. He said that ministers and MLAs were following in the footsteps of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. He stated that Sheshagiri was attacked for standing up to the "repression" and "injustices" by the YSRCP. "Jagan Reddy and YSRCP leaders are attacking the Kapu community with axes. This evil government, which threatens, murders, and attacks, should be overthrown and the people's government should be established. We will fight on behalf of Sheshagiri Rao until those responsible are put behind bars," said Atchannaidu.
“YSRCP goons attacked Seshagiri while he was at home. They are conspiring to suppress the voices of TDP leaders standing in the way of the YSRCP nuisance and protesting the injustices done to the people. They tried to kill him because he was condemning YSRCP's unjust actions towards the Kapus in the Tuni constituency," Atchannaidu added.