BRS Leader T Harish Rao Placed Under House Arrest at Kokapet Residence

Bharat Rashtra Samithi Legislature Party (BRSLP) deputy leader T Harish Rao was placed under house arrest at his residence in Kokapet, Hyderabad, on Thursday morning ahead of his planned visit to Warangal. He had scheduled a visit to extend solidarity to students of the Government Polytechnic College in Warangal who are protesting for the withdrawal of Government Order 97.

Police personnel arrived at Harish Rao’s Kokapet residence early in the morning prior to his departure. Officers informed the former minister that he was being placed under house arrest because he did not have the required permission to take part in the student demonstration. Following the arrival of the police, several BRS leaders and party workers gathered at his residence, resulting in heated arguments between the cadres and the police force.

Despite the restrictions, Harish Rao later managed to evade the police presence at his residence and departed for Warangal. He intended to interact with the protesting students and address the gathering opposing the state government's proposed merger of polytechnic education with the Young India Skills University.

Meanwhile, security measures were heightened in Warangal, with heavy police deployment stationed around the Government Polytechnic College. Police personnel checked students before allowing them inside the campus and reportedly prevented groups of more than four or five students from entering together. Officers were also seen preventing students from exiting the college campus.

In an effort to prevent Harish Rao from reaching the demonstration, police personnel detained student leaders across Warangal and Hanamkonda. Heavy security forces were also stationed at multiple locations along his travel route.

Other BRS leaders faced similar police action during the protest. Former government Chief Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar was placed under house arrest as he prepared to meet the students and support their demand to scrap GO 97. BRS leader Anugula Rakesh Reddy also reached the Government Polytechnic College premises but was intercepted by police officers and turned away.