Former PRP leader Mr. Lakkineni Surendra, who joined the congress party recently even before the PRP president Chiranjeevi had announced his party’s merger with the congress, was attacked and beaten with sticks by the followers of congress leader Vanama Venkateswara rao today at Kothagudem.

A bleeding and collapsed Surendra was immediately hospitalized at Kothagudem but was shifted to a hospital at Khammam as his condition turned serious. Reports indicated he may be shifted to hospital in Hyderabad tonight.

The attack took place when Surendra came to console Vanama Venkateswara rao who was on a fast demanding a quick decision from the Centre on the formation of Telangana state.  The moment Surendra reached the fasting camp, the supporters of Vanama attacked him with sticks. “He was beaten with sticks by the followers of Vanama and his condition is serious,” a Surendra supporter said.

Surendra collapsed on the spot with heavy bleeding and some of the local people took him to the hospital. After learning the news of the attack, the people of his village Tekulapalli arrived in Kothagudem and were about to stage a retaliatory attack on Vanama and his supporters when police intervened and cooled the tempers. A fasting Vanama closed his camp and left the place in a hurry fearing retaliatory attack.

PRP president Chiranjeevi telephoned the family members of Surendra and enquired about his condition from him.