The State Government on Friday swung into action to limit the damage caused by the alleged rough handling of former Minister P. Shanker Rao by the police with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy ordering a CID inquiry into the episode.
His announcement followed criticism by Congress leaders and Dalit organisations over the manner in which Dr. Shankar Rao was treated while being taken to the Neredmet police station for questioning on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said Additional Director-General, CID T. Krishna Prasad would inquire into the issue.
He earlier held discussions with Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha and Handloom Minister G. Prasad Kumar and separately with Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and DGP V. Dinesh Reddy.
No time-frame
He, however, did not fix up any time-limit to complete the inquiry and submit report.
On the suggestion of Mr. Rajanarsimha, the Chief Minister agreed to suspend those police officials found responsible for the rough-handling. Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy said he too was anguished at the way Dr. Rao was handled by the police.
Speaking to reporters later on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister and himself, Mr. Prasad Kumar, a relative of Dr. Rao, however, said the law could take its own course as far as the cases registered against Dr. Rao was concerned.
Meanwhile, there was all round condemnation of the incident with PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana saying that the manner in which Dr. Shankar Rao was taken away by the police was objectionable and unfortunate.
Protesting the high handed behaviour of the police, Telangana Mala Mahanadu activists led by Addanki Dayakar staged a protest outside the Secretariat and were arrested subsequently.
Dalit organisations alleged that Mr. Rao was being made a scapegoat out of political rivalry and urged the Government to drop all the cases against Mr. Rao.