Congress to mount offensive against TRS over Nerella episode

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday informed that a public meeting on ‘Self Pride of Dalits and Tribes’ would be held at Sircilla in July last week. Addressing the media, he said that AICC president Rahul Gandhi would be invited to the meet, and added that the meeting was planned against the backdrop of handcuffing of farmers in Khammam district and arrest and torture of Dalits in Sircilla.

Stating that police of Nerella village of Sircilla district have used third degree torture on Dalits at Sircilla, Uttam said the society should feel ashamed of such acts. The State Congress chief accused that family of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has been looting thousands of crores of rupees by indulging in sand mafia activities. Though the incident took place in July last year, no action has been taken.

Alleging that several people have been crushed to death under the tires of sand trucks, Uttam said the government was inclined to protect the illegal sand miners instead of initiating action against them.

“Minister for Industries KT Rama Rao who should take responsibility for the incident did not respond so far and behaving recklessly,” he said, adding that former Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar was in tears after visiting the site of the incident. He stated that Congress would stand by the victims of the incident.

Meanwhile, speaking at the media meet, one of the victims, Banaiah said that Minister KT Rama Rao, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and MP K Kavitha were responsible for the atrocities of the sand mafia.

He alleged that they were given electric shocks all over the night after the arrest. G Gopal, member of a victim’s family, said that due to electric shock he lost the ability to hear and was unable to speak properly. Another victim and student Harish said that his life was spoiled by the police. He was taken to the police station and beaten up though he had nothing to do with the incident.