5 families ostracised for voting to rivals

Bapatla (Guntur): Much to the shock of democratic world, five families in Andhra Pradesh have been ostracised for voting against the will of an influential contender in the recently held Panchayat elections. A pregnant woman had suffered miscarriage when the political goons kicked her.

The woman had become a victim of the barbaric act of the undemocratic elements when she came to the rescue of male members of the family being tortured in full view of the public. The incident came to light only when victims approached police for help.

Alluru Reddipalem village in Pittalavanipalem of Guntur district earned disrepute for allowing anti-democratic elements crawl on its soil. After elections were over last month, henchmen of a leader targeted a few families in the village for voting against their wishes. They dragged out the male members of the families from their houses and gave a clean thrash at YSR Statue in the village. They were made to stand for whole day and beaten black and blue.

A pregnant Pittu Venkateswaramma, who gathered courage to save her dear ones, lost her expected baby when the muscle power did not care for decency while dealing with a pregnant woman. Even after committing inhuman atrocities on the families, the ruffians issued dictates to all villagers not to help the families.

Detailing the conditions imposed on the villagers as part of the social boycott of the five families, the so-called village heads denied victims drinking water besides other things by households, hotels or shops in the village. They threatened the villagers with facing dire consequences besides huge penalties for any violation of the boycott dictate. Shocked by the ‘verdict’ of the village head, one victim attempted suicide by consuming pesticide. He is being treated at Ponnur Hospital.

Bapatla DSP Angadi Bhaskar conducted counselling involving ‘law-enforcers in the village’ and the victims. He told the media that the police are investigating and stern action would be taken if anybody were found guilty of imposing social boycott on the five families.