Date:11/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/11/stories/2005021104720300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Mudigubba women stage rasta roko Siege of police station ends

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, FEB. 10. Hundreds of women laid a siege to the police station at Mudigubba on Wednesday and staged a rasta roko on Thursday alleging that the police were torturing 12 surrendered persons on the charges of involvement in the violent incidents which had taken place on January 24, after the killing of Paritala Ravindra.

The women alleged that the police were victimising the men of a particular community at the behest another particular community. Their siege to the police station continued from 9 p.m. on Wednesday to the early hours (3 a.m.) on Thursday before they were pacified and sent back by the Additional SP, R. Venkateswarlu, and other police officials.

17 cases registered

The police had registered about 17 cases naming scores of men, except the aged, belonging to one particular community. Meanwhile, the SI and CIs concerned and the Superintendent of Police, R.S. Praveen Kumar, denied the charge of torturing and stated that they were only being questioned.

Meanwhile, all the 12 arrested were produced in the AJFCM court at Kadiri on Thursday and were sent for 14 days judicial remand. They were sent to Cuddapah central prison after medical check up in the Government Area Hospital at Kadiri as they sustained multiple injuries.

Our Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds : The Telugu Desam Party MLA from Uravakonda, V. Keshav, has deplored the alleged highhanded behaviour of the Anantapur police in arresting farmers on the charges of resorting to vandalism in the aftermath of the murder of Penukonda MLA, Paritala Ravi.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Keshav referred to the demonstration by hundreds of women in Mudigubba mandal headquarters late last night. Eighteen farmers belonging to one particular caste were picked up by the police on the directions of local Congress leaders and detained. The police personnel allegedly assaulted them.

Mr. Keshav alleged that two journalists belonging to Telugu newspapers were booked in false cases because they had been critical of the police actions in the recent past. He said in Mudigubba alone 10 cases of attempt to murder were booked against the farmers.

Ironically, the mandal happens to be native place of the State Human Rights Commission member, Hanamanthu, he added.

He said the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had taken serious note of the one sided behaviour of the police. The party is contemplating legal action against the police personnel for their actions.