Police raid fast camp, Left leaders arrested

Police Tuesday night arrested the leaders of Left parties, who were on indefinite hunger strike here to protest the proposed hike in electricity tariff and electricity cuts.

On the fourth day of the hunger strike, police removed the leaders from their camp at Indira Park and shifted them to a government hospital. The action came after the striking leaders' condition started deteriorating.

Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary K. Narayana and Communist Party of India- Marxist secretary B. V. Raghavulu were among the leaders who were evicted. Police also arrested dozens of their supporters, who tried to prevent police from shifting the leaders.

The leaders of 10 left parties had launched indefinite fast on Sunday to protest the power surcharge adjustment imposed on the customers, proposed hike in electricity tariff and the ongoing cuts due to severe electricity shortage.

Earlier, CPI national general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy visited the hunger strike camp. He said people were suffering due to electricity cuts and the burden in the form of FSA and hike in tariff.

-Sakshipost