The police were initially hesitant to arrest the Kapu leader, as he had threatened to consume pesticide if they entered his room by force. However, the cops were emboldened once they received instruction to take him into custody at any cost.
They broke open the doors of his room, which was bolted from the inside, and swooped on Mudragada. According to sources, chief minister Chandrababu, who was upset by the indefinite fast, is said to have personally given the go-ahead for the action.
“What is wrong if unruly elements, who torch trains, are arrested? The Tuni violence created panic throughout the state. We know for sure that outsiders sneaked in during the January 31 incident. By their nature, people of West and East Godavari districts are not trouble makers,” Naidu told the media in Vijayawada.
Implying a link between the Kapu movement and the opposition YSRC party, the chief minister said "You are praising YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who did nothing for the Kapus. I am committed to accord backward status to Kapus. I have appointed a commission to look into the matter. But, you have portrayed me as a villain of the Kapus.”
Immediately after the launch of the fast by Mudragada, police tried to reach out to the Kapu leader by sending a medical team on the pretext of conducting medical tests. Mudragada, however, refused to allow the team inside the house.
With more and more Kapus pouring into Kirlampudi, police were instructed to arrest him before the situation worsens in the village. Some of the followers of Mudragada tried to stop the police entering the house. The police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
Later, in a lightning action, they arrested the fasting leader. He was shifted to a hospital in Rajahmundry in an ambulance for medical tests.
As a prelude to the arrest, police made unusual security arrangements in and around Kirlampudi. Additional forces from Kakinada and Visakhapatnam had been deployed. A number of check posts were set up on the roads leading to the village. At one point, even the media was also asked to leave the area. This led to the staging of a dharna by the scribes at Mudragada’s residence.
