Hans News Service Nalgonda

Policehave arrested two persons for setting fire to the statue of founder of TDP and former Chief Minister NT Ramarao in Nalgonda in the early hours of June 6.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Palakuri Ashok Kumar Goud (45), a private lecturer from Chaitanyapuri, Hyderabad, and Elukanti Praneeth (23), a private employee from Maheshwaram mandal in Rangareddy district

SP Sharath Chandra Pawar on Wednesday told media persons that the arrested accused had allegedly carried out the act with the intention of inciting hatred and creating social unrest.

The incident took place near NG College on Hyderabad Road, where unidentified persons poured petrol on the NTR statue and set it ablaze. The act drew widespread attention across the state.

Based on a complaint lodged by Municipal Ward No. 48 official Bujanuri Swapna, a case was registered at Nalgonda Two Town police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.

Following directions from the SP, special investigation teams were formed under the supervision of DSP K. Shivaram Reddy. Joint teams from the Nalgonda CCS and Two Town Police examined hundreds of hours of CCTV footage from areas surrounding the crime scene. Investigators analyzed suspicious vehicle movements, technical evidence, and travel records, eventually identifying the accused.

According to the police, the accused had allegedly planned to target NTR statues in different parts of the state to provoke public anger and social tensions. As part of the conspiracy, they selected the Nalgonda statue, surveyed the location beforehand, and meticulously planned the attack. During the early hours of June 6, at around 3:45 am, the accused arrived in Nalgonda in a car bearing registration number TS-07-HT-2430, owned by one of the accused, Palakuri Ashok Kumar Goud. They allegedly covered the statue with two old bedsheets, poured one litre of petrol over it, and set it on fire before fleeing the scene. Police said the act was intended to trigger public outrage and disturb communal harmony and public order.

Police seized the car used in the crime along with two mobile phones. Digital evidence recovered during the investigation is also being examined. SP Sharath Chandra Pawar stated that the police would not tolerate attempts to incite hatred, disrupt law and order, or damage public property. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant against conspiracies aimed at disturbing social harmony and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in such activities.