A.P. police conduct disturbing, says PCI

Case relates to attack on journalist

The Press Council of India directed the SP of Prakasam district Trivikram Varma to appear before its inquiry committee on Wednesday as a respondent in a case related to the attack on a journalist in Chirala town last month.

The Chairman of PCI, C.K Prasad, who heard the case on Tuesday, termed the local police investigation and conduct “very disturbing”. Requesting the journalist, Nagarjuna Reddy, to appear before the inquiry committee, Justice Prasad pulled up the A.P. police representatives for failing to take action against the brother of Telugu Desam Party MLA Amanchi Krishnamohan, even after video clippings showed his involvement in the attack.

‘Questionable arrests’

The committee members said the pace of investigation and arrests in the case were “questionable” as the accused were arrested after more than 10 days. The chairman sought to know why the investigation was completed in 12 days whereas a counter case filed against the journalist under the SC/ST Act, allegedly by the supporter of the Chirala MLA around the time of the attack, was still under investigation.