Telangana BJP state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was booked on Sautuday by the Kamareddy Police over the fracas that took place last night at the collectorate complex. Farmers protesting against the municipal master plan have now approached the Telangana High Court challenging the inclusion of agricultural land in the industrial zone in the plan.

Bandi Sanjay was booked under non-bailable sections at Devanpally Police Station along with five other BJP leaders following yesterday’s incident when he joined the farmer’s protest and attempted to storm the collectorate demanding the withdrawal of the municipal master plan which, farmers say, had earmarked the agricultural land of eight villages.

He was booked under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Section 353 of the IPC. The BJP leader had joined the farmers’ protest outside the district collectorate and removed the barricades to force their way into the collectorate complex.

Their attempts to gherao the complex led to a heated exchange with the police followed by a lathicharge. Bandi Sanjay was arrested and later brought to Hyderabad. BJP workers tried to stop the police vehicle with Bandi Sanjay and they damaged another police vehicle and broke its window glass. They also protested at the police station demanding the release of the party president and others.

Bandi Sanjay had earlier visited the house of farmer P Ramulu who had died by suicide over the municipal master plan since he was apprehensive his plot too will be swallowed up in the industrial and green zones marked in the plan. He blamed the state government for the death of the farmer and said it was jeopardising the interest of the farmers for those of the businessmen.

Bandi Sanjay’s arrest was condemned by senior BJP leaders such as Tarun Chugh who said the arrest and lathicharge by police reflected the autocratic and dictatorial attitude of the KCR government which he described as anti-farmer.

Meanwhile, Collector Jitesh Patil said the master plan will be finalised after making necessary changes following objections and suggestions received in a period of two months. He assured farmers that their objections will be taken into account.