Bandh against cop’s suspension peaceful

The bandh called by political parties in Kuppam town on Monday, protesting Circle Inspector Venugopal Reddy’s suspension, passed off peacefully.

Reddy was suspended on February 17 on charges of resorting to “third degree torture” on a Nirbhaya case accused, Shaik Babu of Girnipalle of Ramakuppam on February 3, leading to his renal failure.

Meanwhile, Congress, YSRC and Left party activists took out a rally in the town, demanding that the officer’s suspension be revoked. Educational institutions and commercial establishments remained closed. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Kuppam Tehsildar Abdul Munaf.

Kuppam being a tri-State junction, traffic on vital highways connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were exempted from the bandh. More than 200 police personnel were deployed at vital junctions to avert untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr. Ramakrishna, who is investigating the case, on Monday visited the Kuppam police station and enquired about the charges against Venugopal Reddy.

In another development, Tirupati Traffic Circle Inspector M. Rajasekhar was posted as the new Kuppam CI on Monday.

New Circle Inspector posted in Kuppam despite protests