Hyderabad, Jul 13 (PTI) Suspended Congress MLC Teenmaar Mallanna’s gunman fired in the air on Sunday to disperse a group of protesters, allegedly affiliated with Telangana Jagruthi headed by BRS MLC K Kavitha, who had entered his office at Medipally here, police said.
The Telangana Jagruthi cadre allegedly attacked Mallanna’s office in protest against certain remarks made by him about her.
Mallanna was present in the office when the incident occurred.
The members barged into the MLC's office and "vandalised" furniture among other items.
The protesters also allegedly assaulted one of the two gunmen of Mallanna and some employees after being prevented from entering a room where he (Mallanna) was present, prompting the other gunman to open fire in the air in self-defence, a senior police official told PTI.
Six rounds were fired in the air by the gunman to prevent the unruly mob, police said.
Television footage showed the gunman firing in the air to disperse the mob after several protesters attacked another gunman inside the premises.
One person was injured in the incident and it was not because of the firing, the police official further said, adding two complaints (by both the groups) were filed with the police and they were in the process of registering cases. Further investigation is underway.
Speaking to reporters, Teenmaar Mallanna, born Chintapandu Naveen Kumar, alleged that an attempt was made on his life at the instigation of Kavitha.
He claimed that those who stormed his office tried to snatch his gunman’s weapon and open fire at him. He said a formal complaint, along with evidence, has been submitted to the police.
He demanded that Kavitha's membership in the Legislative Council be revoked for "instigating a murder attempt."
Mallanna also said he would not be intimidated and would continue to work for the welfare of backward classes.
He was elected to the Legislative Council as a Congress nominee in 2024. However, he was suspended from the party earlier this year over alleged anti-party activities.
A Congress source said Mallanna should be called an independent MLC.
Meanwhile, Kavitha met Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy and submitted a memorandum, alleging that Mallanna made "inappropriate and defamatory comments" against her during a meeting in Sangareddy district.
She urged Reddy to refer the matter to the Council’s Ethics Committee.
Addressing the media, Kavitha questioned why Mallanna had targeted her when she had made no remarks about him. Just because he belongs to the backward classes, it doesn’t mean he can say whatever he wants, she claimed.
She further said Telangana Jagruthi activists had planned a democratic protest against Mallanna’s comments, and questioned whether it was justified to fire at them.
"Would you shoot at them for protesting?" she asked.
Kavitha demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy take immediate action and ensure Mallanna’s arrest. If not, she claimed, women across Telangana would believe that the CM supports Mallanna's statements.
"I am no ordinary woman. I am like a spark of fire," she said.
Kavitha said she would approach both the Telangana State Women’s Commission and the National Commission for Women with complaints regarding Mallanna’s remarks.
She also met IG of Police, Law and Order, Ramana Kumar, and submitted a memorandum addressed to the state DGP.
She said in the memorandum that Telangana Jagruti activists celebrated the state cabinet's approval of 42 per cent reservations for BCs in local bodies. This approval is an outcome achieved through the long-standing efforts of Jagruthi, she claimed.
"In response, Teenmar Mallanna mocked these celebrations and made highly objectionable and personal remarks against me in a public speech," she said.
Such comments not only disturb public harmony but also pave way for politically motivated verbal attacks on women, she said.
Such remarks discourage women from actively participating in poliics, she said.
Kavitha requested that an appropriate legal action be taken against Mallanna and a case be also registered under Section 74 and Section 79 of the BNS for using "obscene and offensive language with criminal intent to outrage her dignity as a woman".
Observing that respecting women is a part of our culture, Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud condemned Mallanna's "inappropriate" comments against Kavitha.
Goud said the attack on Mallanna's office is against the law.
Asserting that reservations to BCs as decided by the state cabinet is a Congress initiative, Goud said it is not fair for others to derive political advantage in the issue.
Opposition BRS leader in Legislative Council S Madhusudanachary condemned Mallanna's comments against Kavitha. He demanded that Mallanna should tender an unconditional apology to Kavitha.