The Hindu : `Police torturing innocent villagers'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

`Police torturing innocent villagers'

CUDDAPAH April 24. The district CPI(M) secretary, B. Narayana and Kula Vivaksha Vyatireka Porata Samithi secretary, C. Babu, on Thursday alleged that the police parties raided Reddivaripalle, Bandivaripalle, Thoti Dalitawada and `tortured' innocent villagers, suspecting them of participating in the `famine raid' by naxalites.

In separate statements, they decried that the raids portraying the people as `dacoits' was undemocratic and alleged that the police actions reflected the attitude of the State Government towards the poverty-stricken people. Dalit men, women, children and aged persons, particularly Dalits, had borne the brunt of the police action, they alleged.

The Government is adopting a lenient view towards those who duped the people of thousands of crores of rupees by winding up urban banks, but lacked concern for the poor and Dalit sections, they alleged. They demanded lifting of cases booked against the innocent villagers, liberal distribution of drought rice and starting of gruel centres to feed the poor.

Meanwhile, the SP, Abhilasha Bisht, in a statement refuted reports that innocent villagers were beaten up by the police and maintained that only the suspects in the `famine raid' were being dealt with sternly.

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