AMARAVATI, May 10: BJP State President PVN Madhav on Sunday demanded immediate disciplinary action against a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who allegedly assaulted the party's Kadapa district president during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, calling on the Director General of Police (DGP) to take prompt action against the erring officer.

Mr. Madhav said the DSP should be suspended forthwith, and brought the matter to the attention of the State government.

The incident occurred at Almasapeta Centre in Kadapa city, where BJP and SC Morcha leaders were reportedly attacked by a group of miscreants who tore down decorative arches and flags erected for the Hanuman Jayanti festivities. When police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the aggressors, the Kadapa district BJP president intervened to appeal for restraint and urged the police not to use force against the locals — at which point the DSP allegedly assaulted him physically.

"When a democratically elected party leader steps forward to restore peace and appeals to police to exercise restraint, it is deeply condemnable that a senior officer would raise his hand against him," Mr. Madhav said, terming the officer's conduct as "grossly unacceptable."

The BJP State president also observed that the incident was particularly unfortunate given that it unfolded during a period of widespread Hanuman Jayanti processions and bike rallies being conducted peacefully across Andhra Pradesh. He stressed that the sentiments of devotees must be protected and that incidents of this nature should not be allowed to recur.

Mr. Madhav called on the police department to direct its action against those who had carried out the original attack on the Hanuman Jayanti decorations, rather than against those who were conducting peaceful religious programmes. He reminded the law enforcement machinery that maintaining law and order was its primary obligation.

"The double engine government has been working to accelerate development and welfare programmes, and public trust in the administration is growing," he said, adding that such incidents of police high-handedness risked eroding that goodwill.

The BJP has demanded that the DGP register a departmental case against the DSP and initiate action under the relevant provisions governing police conduct.