WhatsApp statuses against district renaming spurred Amalapuram violence, say locals – News9live

Public transportation has been suspended and a temporary ban on internet along with section 144 has been imposed in Amalapuram town of Andhra Pradesh which saw heavy violence on Tuesday over the YSRCP government’s plan to rename the newly-carved district of Konaseema after Dr BR Amedkar. Andhra Pradesh DGP KV Rajendranath Reddy said seven cases have been filed in connection with the clashes. So far, 46 people have been arrested and teams have been formed to arrest an additional 72 people. “We have apprehended all of the rowdy sheeters in the East Godavari district. The situation is completely under control. Additional forces have been deployed, and no untoward incidents are expected. We believe the incident yesterday was an unintentional evolution caused by false propaganda in WhatsApp groups,” the DGP said in a statement. It all started when some residents of Konaseema posted a status on WhatsApp objecting to the district being renamed after Ambedkar. Geetha Sai Ram, 22, of Kedarlanka village in East Godavari district was one of them. “Around 30-40 members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community barged into my house shortly after I posted the WhatsApp status and pulled me and a few others to the Ambedkar statue…
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