Mourners assault Congress, TDP leaders

Irreparable loss: TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao sheds tears as he pays tributes to Kothapalli Jayashankar in Hanamkonda on Tuesday.

WARANGAL: Unruly crowds went berserk and assaulted Congress and TDP leaders who came to pay their last respects to former Kakatiya University Vice-Chancellor and separate Telangana protagonist, Kothapalli Jayashankar, who passed away here on Tuesday morning.

Congress MP S. Rajaiah was physically attacked and car of IT Service Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah was damaged by the boisterous youth.

They tore the shirt of Mr. Rajaiah, hurled mud and slippers at him. Some others threw plastic chairs and abused him in foulest language.

They demanded that the leaders should come with their resignation letters in support of Telangana as a fitting tribute to Mr. Jayashankar.

Police had very tough time and they rushed additional forces for VIP security but in vain. Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar and Additional SP S. Tripathi arrived at the spot and stay put for long. Finally, the police authorities requisitioned a heavy contingent of CRPF led by Commandant Karowing Haopu to facilitate visit of Mr, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and other VIPs. However, the crowds that gathered in and around the park threw slippers at him while others stoned his convoy damaging the window panes.

Scores of youth belonging to TRS and KU Students JAC flocked around the body Mr. Jayashankar at his residence and began shouting slogans.

They mobbed the TDP leaders - MLA R. Prakash Reddy and MP Gundu Sudha Rani - and chased them away raising high pitch slogans like - Telangana betrayers go back. They also humiliated Congress MLA N. Rajalingam, who too came there.

The body of Mr. Jayashankar was shifted to Ekasila Park by the relatives to allow the steady stream of visitors to pay their last respects.

TRS leaders Etela Rajender, T. Harish Rao, Despathi Srinivas and KU senior professors appealed for calm through public address system. However, they only fell on deaf ears.

The atmosphere remained highly charged till dark hours.

TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, political JAC chairman Prof. P. Kodandaram, MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy and a host of leaders paid tributes to late Jayashankar.

Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao burst into tears and called for three days of mourning in the region.

He wanted people to conduct condolence meetings across the region and stay away from all celebrations.