Andhra Pradesh Dalit Mahasabha general secretary Katti Padma Rao on Sunday demanded making PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana accused No. 1 in the Lakshmipeta Dalit massacre case and accused Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy of trying to save him by not ordering a CBI probe.
Mr. Rao, who filed a petition before the National Human Rights Commission, said the Dalit Ministers had asked Mr. Reddy to hand over the case to CBI to bring the people responsible for brutal murder of six SCs in Srikakulam allegedly by BC (Kapus).
He told reporters here after leading a fact-finding team to Lakshmipeta that the incident occurred due to rivalry among the Kapus and SCs over cultivable lands, which were acquired for Madduvalasa reservoir 10 years ago.
Later on the revenue officials’ oral orders, 80 SC families took possession of 60 acres for cultivation eight years ago. The remaining 190 acres came under the possession of Kapus.
Mr. Rao alleged that Botcha Vasudva Rao, accused No. 1, was a relative of the PCC president, had been collecting money from powerful Kapu community by promising pattas to them for the entire 250 acres despite stiff resistance by SC farmers. He alleged that Mr. Vasudeva Rao was the agent of the PCC president in Srikakulam district.
Demanding registration of cases under SC and ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act, 1989 and Cr.PC against Mr. Botcha Satyanarayana for his involvement in the incident, he said it was highly reprehensible that the Kapus had now launched dharna with the blessings of the PCC president at Palakonda and Rajam demanding action against SCs for `illegal’ possession of land.
He said in response to his representation, a team from NHRC would visit Lakshmipeta on July 3 and accused Telugu Desam and other parties for shedding crocodile tears over the plight of Dalit farmers instead of taking up their issue at the State and national level.
