The Left parties have demanded that the Government remove Rajanna-Sircilla Superintendent of Police and other officials who were involved in “brutal manhandling” of the people agitating against sand mining at Nerella village recently.
They expressed concern over the first of its kind “police atrocity” on the agitated people who were given third degree treatment for raising their voice against the Government. Participating in a meeting to express solidarity with the people who suffered grievous injuries in Nerella incident, CPI (M) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, CPI State secretariat member Pasya Padma and educationist Chukka Ramaiah stressed the need for sustaining struggles against the Government which was handing over natural resources to contractors.
Police favoured
Mr. Veerabhadram charged the Government with adopting a “dictatorial attitude” and stifling the voices of those who raised questions against its decision. “Nerella incident is a warning by the Government to those who intend to raise their voices against it,” he said. Lamenting that the Government was using police force to suppress the voice of the people, he recalled that empowering Police Department with men, machines and money was among the first files signed by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao after coming to power three years ago. Ms. Pasya Padma said though Nerella was in the Sircilla constituency represented by IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, he had not responded to the incident so far. The Minister was, in fact, trying to indulge in counter criticism of the Opposition parties rather than instilling confidence among the residents that the Government would not allow excesses by the police department.
Agitators tortured
“This is the one of its kind development ever since TRS took over the reins. Agitators were given third degree treatment and several of them are likely to be confined to beds for the months to come,” she said.
Mr. Chukka Ramaiah said the struggle launched for separate Telangana would not culminate till the people received fruits of their long cherished dreams of equal treatment. “A section of those who participated in the long struggle think that it has come to an end after the formation of the State and taking over the reins. But, the struggle is not over yet and awareness should be created among the people on continuing their fight to achieve their rights,” he said.