The three town police in Eluru registered a case against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA from West Godavari district Chintamaneni Prabhakar, who has a history of using abusive language against government servants, for allegedly attacking a journalist.

The incident related to launching a verbal attack on a journalist using abusive language two days ago. When workers of the mid-day meal programme staged a dharna in front of the collectorate demanding regularisation of services and increase in wages, MLA Chintamaneni had reached the dharna site.

Immediately after his arrival, he started using abusive language against the agitators and threatened to remove them from the mid-day meal programme. This was captured on a cell phone video by APUWJ district vice president Kadavakolla Sagar, who was present there. Chintamaneni became angry and launched a verbal attack on the journalists.

Protesting the MLA’s attitude and high-handed behaviour AP Journalists Forum, AP Working Journalists Union and journalists of the district electronic media staged a protest at the three town police station today. Later, a case was registered against the MLA.

Earlier, Chintamaneni had allegedly assaulted a woman Tehsildar Vanajakshi, because of her hindering his sand mafia in Krishna district. He was also allegedly attacked a forest officer at Atapaka Sanctuary. He also has the history of threatening ICDS officers and intruding into Eluru 2-town police station and taking the accused away with him. Beating a police constable black and blue and using foul language towards Anganwadis are some of allegations against him.