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Tuesday, Dec 22, 2009
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Vijayawada Commissioner suspended

Special Correspondent

Lagadapati’s “escape”: police punished for ‘negligence of duty’

K.V. Rajendranath Reddy

HYDERABAD: Taking the security lapse that led to the disappearance of fasting Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal seriously, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on Monday announced suspension of Vijayawada Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy and five others.

Addressing a press conference after a three-hour informal Cabinet meeting, Mr. Rosaiah also announced an inquiry into the ‘escape’ of Mr. Rajagopal from police custody at Government hospital in Vijayawada. It would also inquire into reports of connivance of a section of police in the incident and intelligence failure.

The name of inquiry officer and terms of reference are expected to be announced in a day. This is the first time that a police officer of the rank of Commissioner is suspended in connection with such an incident in the State.

The government felt there was negligence of duty and irresponsible behaviour on the part of the police facilitating the “cinematic style escape” of Mr. Rajagopal, Mr. Rosaiah said. Other police officers suspended were A.V. Subba Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Vijayawada, K. Dharmendra, C.H. Lakshmipathi, circle inspectors, Nunna and Machavaram respectively, P. Bhaskara Rao, sub-inspector, Governorpet and R.V.S. Kamalakar, a detective sub-inspector, Machavaram.

He also announced suspension of seven more policemen of Pulivendula for similar negligence that resulted in destruction of BSNL facility, tahsildar, roads and buildings executive engineer and electricity offices by agitators. They were Ramana, circle inspector, Parthasarathy, Doraiswamy Naik, sub-inspectors, Kadapa, and Iqbal Hussain, B. Raja Reddy, K. Babu and P. Masthan, all constables. Fourteen persons arrested for the destruction were remanded to judicial custody.

Mr. Rosaiah, who was flanked by Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, Information Minister J. Geetha Reddy and Health D. Nagender, DGP R.R. Girish Kumar, said the suspensions must serve as a warning that police need to take appropriate action.

Case against MP

He said a criminal case was booked against Mr. Rajagopal for the escape and similar action awaited persons who take law into their hands. Asked how Mr. Rajagopal was readily admitted into NIMS, he said justice could not be different to him and advised media persons against comparing his case with that of TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao. If necessary, bulletins would be issued on the MP’s health.

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