16 injured in group clash

Eluru: In all, 16 persons were injured in a group clash at Bhimole village in Gopalapuram mandal in West Godavari district. The Dalit pattadars and tenant farmers were indulged in clashes and hurled stones at each other at the village following a land dispute.

District Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash reached Bhimole village on Tuesday and warned the groups that if anyone tries to breach the peace and tranquility, they will be dealt with seriously.

According to information, the government has sanctioned pattas to Dalits for the surplus land in Bhimole village. The land was taken over by the government under Land Ceiling Act from landlords and distributed pattas to 400 Dalits. 

The Dalits are agitating to get rights on the land. However, the landlords of the village approached the courts. Even then, as per the directive from the court, the officials distributed pattas to the Dalits in the village. The Dalits started cultivation and planted mango and cashew plants in those surplus lands.

As things stand thus, on Monday night around 9.30 pm, when the Dalit pattadars were crossing village sarpanch Nagamani’s house, her sons Bezawada Mohan Rao, Ravindra, along with some other persons, attacked Dalits with liquor bottles and stones. 

There was a heated discussion between the groups before the attack. However, Dalits also moved forward and attacked the other group. In the clashes, 16 people, including a constable were injured. Of them, Penumaka Subba Rao, Penumaka Chakravarti and Vemuri Venkatratnam condition is said to be serious and they were shifted to Rajahmundry government hospital.  

Dalits said that Kovvadayya, Kakulapati Venkat Rao and another six persons also received injuries and admitted to Kovvuru government hospital. Two women also sustained injuries.

CPI District Secretary Dega Prabhakar, State Discipline Committee of CPI Nekkanti Subba Rao and others visited Rajahmundry government hospital and consoled the injured victims. They also reached Kovvuru and paid a visit to console the injured.

Speaking on the occasion, Dega Prabhakar alleged that the tahsildar and SI are at the spot when the other group posing as tenant farmers attacked Dalits. The MRO has directed the Dalits not to enter the lands. “When the sarpanch group hurled stones at a police constable, he was injured. However, the tahsildar and sub-inspector backing the landlords”, he alleged.

He demanded immediate suspension of tahsildar and SI. Meanwhile, District Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash reached the village and enquired about the incident on Tuesday morning. The police personnel explained the situation to the SP.

When asked, Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash told the media that the situation is now under control. “Clash took place between the two groups and those groups hurled stones at each other. Cases were registered against both the groups,” he added.

He said that an SC ST Atrocities case was registered against one group.  Court order favoured Dalits. We suggested to tahsildar to look into the issue. A case was handed over to DSP Muralikrishna and steps were taken to arrest the accused”, he said.