Andhra Pradesh pastor staged attack on himself to foment tension: Cops; 8 arrested

Visakhapatnam: A pastor and seven others were arrested for allegedly staging a murderous assault for political mileage and to foment communal tensions in the state.Pastor Dara Abhinaya Darshan (38), the leader of Bharosa Party, had claimed that he was attacked by unidentified people near Neeruthotapalem in GK Veedhi mandal of the ASR district on Monday, which led to tension in the area.Police formed special teams to nab the accused, and during the investigation, they found that the assault was staged by Darshan with the help of his supporters. Following the arrests, locals hailed the police investigation, failing which, trouble could have erupted between two groups.ASR district superintendent of police Amit Bardar said the alleged attack on Darshan was part of a pre-planned conspiracy by the pastor and four others. The entire episode was pre-planned, recorded, and circulated on social media with the intention of creating fear, disturbing communal harmony, and spreading public unrest in the area and across Andhra Pradesh.The alleged conspiracy was purportedly aimed at creating a sensational attack narrative to gain political mileage, attract public sympathy, increase social media attention, and provoke communal tension and unrest, the police alleged.Apart from Darshan, the others arrested include Billa Kiran alias Kiran George (34), native of Sattenapalli, Palnadu district; K Benhar (49), Darshan’s assistant; and Bhanu Prasad. Those who participated in the allegedly staged attack are Thangula Vasanth Kumar, Kumada Prem Kumar, Thangula Satyaraj, and Kindangi Indra Kumar — all from Dumbriguda mandal in ASR district.It may be recalled that Darshan and his associates had claimed that the former was blocked by a group of masked people while he was travelling in the area as part of his ongoing political visit to various parts of the district. They had claimed that the miscreants threw eggs at their vehicle, intercepted it, and attacked them with weapons. The pastor and two others were injured in the incident, and he was shifted to a hospital.The alleged incident initially triggered outrage after videos of it surfaced on social media. Bardar said their investigation revealed that the alleged attack on Darshan was part of a pre-planned conspiracy orchestrated by him and Kiran George, in collusion with Bhanu Prasad, Sudarshan, Benhar and others. They allegedly identified and mobilised local persons from Dumbriguda and nearby areas through inducements and monetary transactions.Police said Darshan had roped in the four tribal persons to stage the attack. Bardar said further investigation is underway to establish the role of others who may be involved in the conspiracy.Darshan, a native of Kadapa, founded Bharosa Party on March 26, coinciding with the first death anniversary of pastor Praveen Pagadala. The launch event was held at Kakinada. According to police, the party mobilises people from certain groups.