HYDERABAD: A day after IT minister K T Rama Rao visited and consoled the Nerella victims, the state government on Wednesday told the High Court that the injuries on the bodies of the Nerella victims are an old one and not related to the present incident (of police torture).Telangana state advocate general D Prakash Reddy informed this to the court which was dealing with a lunch motion petition moved by Gaddam Laxman, president of civil liberties, seeking CBI probe into Nerella incident.
Petitioner’s counsel V Raghunath told the court that eight youth belonging to Nerella, Jillela and Ramachandrapuram villages in Sircilla district were beaten brutally under the supervision of district SP and SI concerned as the victims opposed constant plying of up to 200 lorries every day which was filled with sand excavated from Tangalapally Vagu. More than four villagers died in the past two months due to speeding lorries plying on the road. On July 2, grieved by the death of one of the villager, locals protested and set fire to some lorries. Police hand picked these youth and confined them to an isolated place and subjected them to third-degree torture in violation of human rights, he pointed out.
Stating that victims were now undergoing treatment at Manorama hospital in Vemulawada, the counsel urged the court to direct the authorities to shift them to NIMS for better treatment. He sought for sending forensic doctors.He also sought for recording the statements of victims by the First Class Judicial Magistrate of Karimnagar, as they were horrified by the police brutality and are not divulging the facts even to their family members. The victims were undressed before beating them with rubber sticks, bags and even subjected them to current shocks on their private parts which led to heavy bleeding.
Besides, the police even abused the family members of the victims when they asked about the whereabouts of the victims and even warned of slapping brothel cases on them, he added.After hearing both sides, the bench directed the principal secretary to home to send two senior doctors of MGM hospital in Warangal to Vemulawada on Thursday to examine the six victims out of eight who are undergoing treatment at Manorama hospital.
The doctors should assess the nature of injuries and if condition is critical they may suggest to shift the victims to NIMS. They asked the doctors to submit a report on the health condition of the victims to the principal secretary concerned. The bench made it clear that forensic doctors will be sent only if the need arises. At present, the court gives priority in extending better treatment to the victims, it noted.
While adjourning the case to next Wednesday, the bench directed the principal secretary to home to submit a report on the entire Nerella episode along with the doctors’ report to the court.
Unhappy at lack of assurance from KTR on lifting of cases: Victims
Rajanna-Sircilla/Hyderabad: Just a day after KTR met victims in Vemulawada, they said on Wednesday that they were disappointed with the lack of assurance from him about withdrawing cases against them. The victims, who are taking shelter at BJP district president Pratapa Ramakrishna’s residence, spoke to media. The main accused and former sarpanch Penta Banaiah, along with others, said, “We expected that KTR would assure us that cases would be lifted. He only promised quality treatment for the injured.” He accused the government of more concerned about sand mafia than about lives of the people. On Wednesday, deputy inspector-general of police Ravi Varma recorded the statements of victims and took their signatures on the statement copy.
KTR attacks Cong
In Hyderabad, KTR said victims of Nerella complained about police excesses and, if it was true, state would take action against police. He denied Congress leaders’ allegations that there was sand mafia. Congress tried to make a non-issue an issue in Nerella. “In fact, the revenue from the sand auctions increased from H10 crore to H1,000 crore in three years. If there is sand mafia, how has the revenue increased?” he wondered