The sleepy village of Karlampudi leapt into action on Friday, with Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife, Padmavathi, launching an indefinite fast, demanding that the State government include Kapus in the BC list.
His family members — daughter Satyavathi; sons Balu and Giri; daughter-in-law Siri and granddaughter Bhagyasri — also took part in the fast. Hundreds of supporters visited the fasting couple.
Responding to Mr. Padmanabham’s call, Kapu youth launched indefinite fast at Amalapuram, Ambajipeta, Tuni, Jaggampeta, Prattipadu, Kattipudi, Sankhavaram, and Pithapuram. People banged steel plates with spoons as a gesture to register their protest around noon. There was heavy police presence at Kirlampudi. Police checked vehicles heading towards Prattipadu and Kirlampudi mandals. Several check-posts were set up on the National Highway both from Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram.
Tension prevailed at Kirlampudi for some time when Mr. Padmanabham’s supporters entered into an argument with police after the former were barred from entering his house. Only mediapersons and doctors team were allowed inside. The police later allowed them visit the leader in a queue. Anxious moments were witnessed for a brief period when the police prevented entry of Congress Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao into Mr. Padmanabham’s residence. Mr. Rao staged a dharna by squatting on the road for about 20 minutes. OSD K. Fakeerappa rushed to the spot and allowed the MP to go inside. Anakapalle MP Avanthi Srinivas, former Minister Vatti Vasanta Kumar, former MLA Pantam Gandhimohan, Kapu leader from Pithapuram K. Mohana Rao met Mr. Padmanabham. Speaking to the media, Mr. Padmanabham said people had come to his village in large numbers despite an appeal not to visit Kirlampudi. Doctors from the Kirlampudi PHC are monitoring the health of the couple.