RTI activist attacked, injured grievously

​Hyderabad: RTI activist Tella Hanumanta Rao of Kalavakuru village in Addanki mandal of Prakasam district was waylaid by a group of three persons and severely injured on Tuesday night while he was returning from Addanki on his motorcycle, according to his son Ravichandra.

Ravichandra alleged that the assailants attacked his father indiscriminately with crowbars after smashing the streetlights in order to cover their identity. They have even shouted at him for seeking information from various government offices against them, he added.

The police rushed to the spot after the family members of Rao informed them and shifted the victim who suffered injuries on both the legs to the RIMS hospital at Ongole. The doctors told the family members that the right leg was severely injured which might lead to amputation.

Hanumanta Rao has been applying to the various departments Panchayat Raj, Revenue department and Education department since 2012 seeking information about the works undertaken under NREGS and the construction of side drains in various villages which run into several crores of rupees.

The family members alleged that the former sarpanch of the village and some other people’s representatives who feared that their misdeeds would be exposed attacked Hanumanta Rao.

They said that a case under SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act was also foisted against Hanumanta Rao in the past and the case was under trial. In a bid to stop him from attending the court, he was attacked, they added.

D Emanuel, Lok Satta co-convener, said that Hanumanta Rao has been trying to unravel the scam worth Rs one crore that occurred in the village and that must be the reason for the attack against him.

The police registered a case of grievous assault against Kaluva Elisha, K Venkateswara Reddy, A Srinivasa Reddy, Koti Reddy, Patas Reddy and Siva Reddy, the investigation officer told The Hans India.

By: Ganji Srinivasa Rao