Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092756640400.htm

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Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TRS wants Lagadapati booked

Special Correspondent

Petitions to SHRC; says violence may escalate if a case is not registered against the MP

TRS activists stage demonstration near Assembly
SHRC seeks police report on Friday’s incidents

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Agitated: TRS MLAs and other activists staging dharna in front of the Assembly on Friday. -

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has sought the intervention of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in booking a criminal case against Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal following injuries to a TRS worker in a road accident involving his car in Nizamabad on Thursday.

The TRS informed the SHRC Chairman B. Subhashan Reddy on Friday that it was petitioning the Commission as it did not trust the State government to do justice in the matter.

The TRS delegation, including its floor leader Eatala Rajender and MLA T. Harish Rao, alleged that the government deliberately delayed booking a case against Mr. Rajagopal.

They feared escalation of violence if action was not initiated against him.

Meanwhile, the police picked up 12 persons suspected of involvement in the vandalism on the Lanco office and released them later after finding them to be innocent. Thereafter, the TRS organised a black badge demonstration near the Telangana Martyrs Memorial in front of the Assembly to protest against Mr. Rajagopal identifying the party with terrorists and anti-social elements in an interview to a TV channel on Friday morning. The TRS delegation to SHRC appealed to the commission to take action against the MP for his outburst.

Mr. Rajender and Mr. Harish Rao complained to the SHRC that Mr. Rajagopal was provoking TRS activists for the last three years with anti-Telangana statements.

In September 2006, the MP incurred the wrath of Telangana supporters when he challenged Congress MP Sarve Satyanarayana for a debate on the merits of the demand for separate Statehood .

Justice Reddy issued orders to Nizamabad Superintendent of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police of Banjara Hills to furnish reports on the incidents by Friday next.

He promised to conduct an open inquiry after receiving these reports.