<div align="justify">A freelance journalist was allegedly assaulted by Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan's brother A Srinivasa Rao alias Swamulu and his supporters in Chirala town of Prakasam district, police said today.<br /><br />Though the incident occurred yesterday, police are yet to make any arrest. Interestingly, a counter case was filed against the journalist N Nagarjuna Reddy under the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by an ex-councillor within hours of the incident last night.<br /><br />Reddy, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, is undergoing treatment in a local hospital in Chirala.<br /><br />"We have registered a case against Swamulu and his followers but no arrests have been made so far," Chirala One-Town Inspector of Police Venkateswara Rao said over phone.<br /><br />Krishna Mohan was elected as an MLA as a lone candidate of Navodayam Party in 2014 and he subsequently became an "associate" of the ruling Telugu Desam Party.<br /><br />Reddy reportedly wrote an article in the latest edition of a monthly magazine published from Guntur, about the "corrupt deeds" of the Chirala MLA.<br /><br />Apparently angered by this, Swamulu waylaid the journalist and beat him up black and blue with a heavy stick.<br /><br />The alleged incident happened in a full public glare and in the vicinity of the local police station in Chirala. By the time police arrived, Swamulu and his henchmen had fled.<br /><br />Reddy, who was bleeding, was then shifted to a private hospital for treatment. Even as police registered a case against Swamulu and others for the assault, a counter case was filed against Reddy by an ex-councillor late in the night alleging he was abused by his caste name.<br /><br />Accordingly, a case was filed against Reddy under the SCs and STs (PoA) Act, police said.<br />Further investigation is on.</div>
<div align="justify">A freelance journalist was allegedly assaulted by Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan's brother A Srinivasa Rao alias Swamulu and his supporters in Chirala town of Prakasam district, police said today.<br /><br />Though the incident occurred yesterday, police are yet to make any arrest. Interestingly, a counter case was filed against the journalist N Nagarjuna Reddy under the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by an ex-councillor within hours of the incident last night.<br /><br />Reddy, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, is undergoing treatment in a local hospital in Chirala.<br /><br />"We have registered a case against Swamulu and his followers but no arrests have been made so far," Chirala One-Town Inspector of Police Venkateswara Rao said over phone.<br /><br />Krishna Mohan was elected as an MLA as a lone candidate of Navodayam Party in 2014 and he subsequently became an "associate" of the ruling Telugu Desam Party.<br /><br />Reddy reportedly wrote an article in the latest edition of a monthly magazine published from Guntur, about the "corrupt deeds" of the Chirala MLA.<br /><br />Apparently angered by this, Swamulu waylaid the journalist and beat him up black and blue with a heavy stick.<br /><br />The alleged incident happened in a full public glare and in the vicinity of the local police station in Chirala. By the time police arrived, Swamulu and his henchmen had fled.<br /><br />Reddy, who was bleeding, was then shifted to a private hospital for treatment. Even as police registered a case against Swamulu and others for the assault, a counter case was filed against Reddy by an ex-councillor late in the night alleging he was abused by his caste name.<br /><br />Accordingly, a case was filed against Reddy under the SCs and STs (PoA) Act, police said.<br />Further investigation is on.</div>