Abhangapatnam incident: Bharath Reddy held while trying to escape

NIZAMABAD : Nearly after a month the video of a politician, said to be a BJP leader, emerged showing him abusing, threatening and forcing two Dalits to take a dip in a pool of muddy water in Nizamabad district, the police on Monday arrested the accused Jaya Bharath Reddy, while he was trying to escape to Maharashtra. The incident took place in Abhagapatnam village few days ago.

After many twists and turns, where the victims at one point claimed that they were acting in a film being produced by Reddy, and later taking a U-turn, said that they were threatened and kidnapped by the politician, Nizamabad commissioner of police Karthikeya put an end to the drama by presenting the absconding accused before the media. Though reports emerged that Reddy had surrendered before the Hyderabad police and was later handed over to Nizamabad police, Karthikeya said he was caught at Kamareddy crossroads on Monday when he trying to escape to Maharashtra in a car.

Karthikeya said Reddy had a criminal background and five cases, including two murder cases, were registered against him, and are under investigation. In the Abhangapatnam incident, police registered three cases under SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other sections of IPC. 

The CP said Reddy took shelter at several places including Idupulapaya and other places in Kadapa of AP and also at  Jogulamba and Jagitial districts and several other places in Karnataka.“We will also take action against those who provided shelter to Bharath Reddy,’’ he CP said. He said police had set up check posts in Abhagapatnam village to provide security to the Dalit families. To another question, Karthikeya said they will take the accused into their custody for further investigation.

what happened?
Bharath Reddy abused and threatened two Dalits, B Rajeshwar and K Laxman, who raised objection digging sand and transportation in tippers from Yerrakunta Cheruvu of Abhagapatnam village under Navipet police station limits, and forced them to enter a muddy pond and the same was videographed. The video went viral later inviting wrath of Dalit associations. The BJP was quick to say that Bharath Reddy was not associated with their party.