A fortnight after the carnage against Dalits in Lakshmipet village in Srikakulam district on June 12, a team of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) finally arrested prime accused, Botcha Vasudeva Naidu, in Hyderabad and his accomplice, Avu Srinivasa Rao, in Visakhapatnam.
One of the special teams of the CID arrested Vasudeva Naidu when he was hiding at the residence of his nephew Avinash at Seri Lingampally in Hyderabad, while another one picked up Srinivasa Rao at Visakhapatnam, a senior police officer said. The Opposition has alleged that Naidu is a relative of APCC president Botcha Satyanarayana.
Five dalits were killed by persons belonging to another caste in a mass attack which, it is alleged, was masterminded by Naidu, a former president of Vangara Mandal Parishad.
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The attack in the remote village, 55 km from Srikakulam, triggered widespread protests in the State.
Dalit associations had alleged that Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana and Kondru Murali were trying to protect Naidu.
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Bowing to the public and political pressure, the government ordered a CID inquiry following which six teams were constituted to search for Naidu and Srinivasa Rao.