Date:25/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022508230300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Parties flay caning of students

Staff Reporter

UNITED FRONT: AISF activists in Kurnool staging a demonstration against police action on their counterparts in Anantapur on Saturday. Photo U. Subramanyam

ANANTAPUR: Student unions' protest against the suicide of a nursing college student due to alleged ragging and the beating up of the protesters by the police have snowballed into a major controversy here.

An all-party meet held here on the issue alleged that 16 student union leaders of AISF, SFI, ABVP, NSUI, TNSF arrested on Friday were badly beaten up by the police at the behest of Superintendent of Police M.S. Ravindra.

Activists of CPI, CPI (M) and BJP went to Anantapur rural police station on Friday night and urged the police to let them take the arrested to hospital. But, the police refused. Around 12.30 a.m. the police allegedly beat up those who were staging sit-in in front of the police station.

Six activists received blood injuries. On Saturday morning, the 16 arrested student union leaders were produced in the Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court and were remanded till March 9.

Judge's response

When they complained to the judge that they were severely beaten up in custody on Friday night the judge asked them to give the complaint in writing to pass strictures against the police.

Incensed by the leaders' complaint to the court the police caned them again on the court premises itself, party activists alleged. They demanded suspension of the SP.

Later, the all-party leaders submitted a memorandum to the DIG of Police, Anantapur Range, N. Jayarami Reddy. Educational institutions in the town remained closed on a bandh call given by the student unions.