The Hindu : Protest dharna staged before police station

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Protest dharna staged before police station

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD JUNE 27. A fresh bout of protests erupted on Friday due to the death of Vithal (30) of Kaukuntla village of Ranga Reddy district, who was injured in the lathicharge on protesting farmers on Wednesday during subsidised seed sale at Chevella. Vithal succumbed to the injuries on Thursday night. Vithal was the owner of a meat shop. He was caught in the melee and was injured.

It is stated that Vithal went back to his village fearing a police case after the lathicharge. It is also believed that he had not been keeping well for some time. On Thursday night, the victim complained of acute discomfort before collapsing and dying, it is said.

The Congress MLA of Chevella, Sabitha Indra Reddy, held a dharna in front of the police station demanding adequate compensation to the victim's family. A large number of people gathered at the venue raising slogans against the police highhandedness. The Government's offer of suspension of the SI and a constable responsible for the flare-up did not satisfy them and they demanded that the police booked for the murder of the farmer.

Protracted discussions with the revenue and police officials initially did not yield any result. The crowd relented after the Joint Collector promised sanction of three acres of land to the bereaved family.

Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Sabitha Indra Reddy said they were demanding Rs.6 lakhs as against Rs.2 lakhs granted by the authorities. A house was also promised. The body was brought for post-mortem to Osmania Hospital in the evening.

Meanwhile, the entire Ranga Reddy district observed a bandh responding to the call of the Opposition. Traders in all mandal headquarters in the district downed shutters and people staged a `rasta roko.' Effigies of the Chief Minister were burnt at some places and traffic bound for interior areas was affected.

The PCC president, M. Satyanarayana Rao, talking to presspersons here, accused the Government of shielding the cops responsible for the death of the farmer. If the Government had any love for farmers it should have booked the policemen under relevant sections, he said.

He demanded a Government job for a member of the bereaved family. He warned the Government of intensifying the agitation against the `anti-farmer' policies.

The CLP leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in a separate statement, held the Chief Minister responsible for the death of the farmer.

The State Committee of the CPI (M) demanded a judicial enquiry into the police firing and lathicharge and payment of ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the family of K. Vittalji, who succumbed to the head injury he sustained in the lathicharge.

In a statement, B. V. Raghavulu, Secretary of the State Committee, said the death of Vittalji, showed the way the police had gone berserk, beating up all those who came in their way.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

It's a living hell in Swaroopa Nagar

Water board clarifies on Krishna project works

MRTS project: Chitra inspects coaches

Protest dharna staged before police station

Drive against illegal transport operators moves into high gear