Tension prevails over TDP's Chalo Pulivendula stir

Kadapa: Tense situation prevailed in Pulivendula on Saturday as police prevented TDP leaders from entering police station as part of Chalo Pulivendula programme called by state Telugu Mahila president Vangalapudi Anitha over the rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Lingala mandal. The TDP leaders reached the police station from R&B guesthouse in the town in a rally demanding justice to the Dalit victim.

They raised slogans against the government for its failure in maintaining law and oder and protecting women. TDP activists entered in to heated exchanges with the police after they were prevented by police from entering the police station for submitting a memorandum to the DSP E Srinivasulu. Police said it would not be possible to allow them all in to the office in view of coronavirus prevalence in the town.

However, after half-an-hour of stand off, police allowed 10 leaders into the station. They submitted a memorandum the DSP demanding arrest of real culprits and repostmortem.

Speaking on the occasion, Telugu Mahila president Anitha alleged that police were trying to shield the real culprit involved in the rape and murder of 45-year-old Dalit woman Nagamma in Peddakudala village of Lingala mandal as the crime took place in Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's own constituency lest it may dent his image.

She alleged that police washed of their hands by merely registering a case against two minor boys and sending them to Juvenile home. She questioned if minor boys were really involved in the incident, what was the need for women and villagers attacking Kancharla Gangaraju, 55, of the village. She demanded police to answer as to why they were still keeping Gangaraju in custody and have not yet revealed the post-mortem report till date.

The TDP leaders said if the YSRCP government was sincere in its commitment to protect women, it should initiate stern action against real culprit by ordering repostmortem over the incident.

Police arrested two minors aged 15 and 16 years in the Nagamma murder case and sent them to juvenile home.

TDP leaders B.Tech Ravi, V S Amir Babu, R Venkata Subba Reddy, Gurrappa, Swetha Reddy, Sridevi and others took part in the agitation.