The MRPS activists entered the Congress headquarters, Gandhi Bhawan, by barging past security guards and special protection police and throwing kerosene and petrol on them. The activists first rushed into the office lobby and set fire to the furniture in the reception area, waiting rooms and chambers of Congress leaders. The activists themselves suffered severe burn injuries during the attack. It is not clear yet if they got burnt accidentally or tried self-immolation.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao said that an officer of the Special Protection Police posted at the Gandhi Bhavan, and two staffers also suffered burn injuries while trying to douse the fire and prevent the activists from reaching the upper floors. Those injured, including the MRPS activists, were rushed to Osmania general hospital for treatment.
The MRPS is fighting for classification of Scheduled Castes and is demanding the implementation of the Justice Usha Mehra Commission’s report which was submitted in May first week and suggested categorisation of the SC. The MRPS is demanding that reservations for scheduled castes on basis of A,B,C,D categories be implemented from the coming academic year. MRPS President Manda Krishna has accused the YSR Government of dragging its feet on the issue and is running a fight against the Congress Government.
On May 26 last year, MRPS activists stormed into the office of a Telugu daily, Andhra Jyoti, smashed the furniture and set the front office on fire. The outfit was peeved over a news item in the paper, which alleged that leaders of certain SCT organisations making demands for reservations were compromising with the Government.