The Hindu : V.C. Reddipalle still in the grip of fear

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

V.C. Reddipalle still in the grip of fear

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI Jan. 9. Even three days after the bloody attack on a middle-aged couple by a landlord and his goons and a desperate bid by them later to whisk the couple away to Bangalore amid frantic efforts to "manage'' the police, V.C. Reddipalle -- a BC-dominated village in Pulicherla mandal, 40 km from Tirupati -- continues to remain in the grip fear.

But, Vallivedu Krishna Reddy and his son, Pridhvi Reddy, who were allegedly involved in the barbaric episode, at a hurriedly convened press conference here today, however, denied their involvement and any connection whatsoever with the incident, blaming, it at the same time, on their "detractors'' who were envious over their family's "impeccable image."

Taking serious exception to the outcry against the incident and the alleged dubious role being played by local TDP leaders and BC organisations, the duo said that they would themselves reveal within two days the names of those who were actually "fomenting'' all the trouble in the village out of malice against them.

It all started on the Sunday night when some assailants, allegedly at the instance of the father and the son, raided the house of a 45-year-old woman, Savitramma, working as the village's `Sangamitra' -- a liaison between the Government and the DWCRA women -- and whisked her away in a van to the house of the duo along with her husband, Govindaiah, and son, Krishnam Raju.

The three were allegedly thrashed and dumped on the village outskirts early in the morning. When the badly hurt and profusely bleeding three were rushed to a private hospital in Chittoor in a precarious condition, the assailants were said to have made a vain bid to whisk them way to Bangalore to hush up the case and escape the public and media outcry which by then started flaring-up. But their attempt was foiled when the district police, after initial reluctance, woke up to the furore created by the incident and entered the scene. The police provided protection to the couple in the private hospital, seized the vehicle and took into custody those who allegedly tried to cart them away to Bangalore.

But, Mr. Pridhvi Reddy strongly dismissed the "kidnap'' theory stating that if it was his intention, he would not have gone to the hospital alone. He also denied that his vehicle was seized and maintained that it was in the same vehicle he came for the meet.

What actually triggered the attack on the middle-aged couple was their alleged grouse that Ms. Savitramma, as a Sangamitra, supported another woman, Surekha, who seeking justice for her alleged nude parading by the landlord in connection with an earlier case, and "ventured'' to file a police complaint against the accused.

Police pickets were posted in the tense village to prevent any further reprisals.

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