Kapu quota stir in Andhra Pradesh turns violent; train, police vehicles set on fire - 10 latest developments

Kakinada/Vijayawada/Hyderabad: Huge violence broke out in Andhra Pradesh's Tuni town on Sunday as the Kapu community members seeking reservation under Backward Class category went on rampage.

Here are 10 latest developments:-

- The agitators, gathered at Tuni to attend a public meeting addressed by their leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabh, pelted the engine of the train with stones  and ransacked the railway station

- Agitated mob set four coaches of Ratnachal Express on fire at Tuni station

- The agitators also damaged police vehicles in the area and set ablaze at least two of them. Police personnel were also attacked; at least 15 policemen have been  injured

- The national highway-16 in East Godavari district was also blocked

- Seven trains were cancelled, four others partially cancelled and six diverted on the Vijayawada-Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam section due to the protest.  The protest forced the authorities to stop all trains running between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stations, causing a huge inconvenience to passengers. 

- Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said he was committed to reservation for the community; he said reservation benefits would be extended to the community without exceeding the total reservation by 50 per cent as per the decision of the Supreme Court

- Padmanabh accused the Chief Minister of giving "false promises" to Kapus on their inclusion in BC category. "Let the CM realise the gravity of the situation," he had said addressing the rally

- State Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R P Thakur said, "Our people are trying to control the situation and additional forces have been rushed to the spot." 

- As of now, Kapu leaders have withdrawn the protest for reservation

-  Padmanabh has asked the government to issue orders by Monday for including Kapus in the backward classes list so that they can get the benefit of reservation in education and employment. Padmanabh has warned that if the government failed to respond by Monday evening, he would launch fast-unto-death.