Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042050360100.htm

Front Page

3 police personnel suspended

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Two Sub-Inspectors and a police constable involved in the assault of a farmer at Moinabad on Friday have been placed under suspension on instructions of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who is camping in Kadapa.

Those suspended were Sub-Inspectors Shanker Reddy and Yadagiri and constable Srinivas Goud. They were on deputation to the Vigilance and Anti-Power Theft Squad of Central Power Distribution Company and posted to Ranga Reddy district.

Power Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir told reporters that they were part of a seven-member team of the Vigilance squad that visited villages in Moinabad mandal.

One of those arrested T. Yadi Reddy of Aziznagar picked up an altercation with the officials resulting in the assault on him. Yadi Reddy had let out a portion of his house to a wine shop whose owner pilfered power and later vacated the premises. A case of power theft, however, was registered against Yadi Reddy.

Making a clear distinction between dues of agriculture and domestic bills, the Minister said the Congress government had withdrawn theft cases and waived bills in respect of agriculture, but gave no such exemption of dues in the domestic sector.