WARANGAL: The State leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has taken serious note of the alleged police highhandedness against the agitating party cadres in Warangal town on June 4.

Alleging that the DSP, Liyakhat Ali Khan, and the CI, Chandrasekhara Avadhani, roughed up 14 activists, including two leaders, after detaining them in a lock-up for spearheading the agitation, the party's Rajya Sabha member, Madhu, on Thursday demanded that the Government initiate stern action against the officers immediately. Mr. Madhu met the Superintendent of Police, S. Ravindra, to convey the party's protest against the "police brutality".

The party leaders, who were allegedly manhandled by the police for laying siege to the Collectorate, told the Rajya Sabha member that the DSP and the CI beat them for about three hours in the lock-up. "While some policemen held the hands of the leaders from the other side of the windows, the officers caned their backs indiscriminately. Where are we heading for?" Mr. Madhu sought to know from the police. He said two district-level leaders -- Mettu Srinu and Uppalaiah -- were among the victims.

The party district secretariat member, Gade Prabhakar Reddy, told the MP that police swung into action at the end of the two-day picketing called by the State committee. "A police team led by the DSP picked up seven activists, who were about to shift the tent house material from the protest site. Later, police raided the houses of party leaders and rounded up another seven members," he complained.

Moved by the plight of the party cadres, Mr. Madhu told the SP that police should have taken legal action against them, if they violated law. "Who has given them the right to rough up the leaders? Is it a crime to lead a protest march?" he questioned.

Mr. Madhu said the SP expressed regrets over the development and assured him that he would look into the matter. "The DSP and the CI should not be spared," the MP said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |