A chariot was set on fire in Hanakanahal village of Kanekall mandal in Ananthapur district during the late hours on Monday. The alert villagers put off the flames in the midnight. The chariot was half burnt in the fire.
District collector Vinod Kumar and SP P Jagadish visited the spot and said that they would not spare the culprits. They said that they would take stringent action against those who are responsible for the incident. A thorough investigation would be initiated in the incident and all the culprits would be brought to book, they said.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also directed the district Collector and SP to take stringent action against those who are responsible for the fire. He directed the collector and SP to investigate into the incident and bring everyone to the book.
Meanwhile, two persons went into the room where the chariot was parked. They poured petrol and set the chariot on fire. A resident, Anasuyamma, who came out of the house for nature call, had noticed the fire and alerted her uncle Yerriswamy.
Yerriswamy woke up the neighbours and set the fire off. The villagers also reached the place and joined the operation. They alleged that the ruling TDP activists were responsible for the mishap. They pointed fingers at the local TDP activists who set the chariot on fire.
The police have taken five persons into custody, including those two who were being suspected by the villagers. It is alleged that the police are trying to hide the names of the two TDP leaders in the case.
