RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: In a surprising turn of events, victims of police harassment in Nerella have splintered into two groups - one that supports former Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao and the other against him. Four persons, belonging to the former group, on Tuesday surprised Opposition parties by conducting a press conference in Vemulawada where they said they would help Rama Rao win in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to media persons, Pasula Eeshwar, Gandham Gopal, Chepyala Raju and Battula Mahesh said that they had been ‘misused by leaders of Opposition parties for their political gain’ and said that they had faith in Rama Rao that he would help them find justice. The four men also promised they would not conduct dharnas or rasta rokos in the coming days.
It may be recalled that eight persons had been arrested by police in March 2017 in connection to sand lorries being set ablaze in Nerella village in Thangallapalli mandal. Over the next few days, it was alleged, the men were subjected to third-degree torture in police custody. Soon, the issue became a major talking point in the State with Opposition parties criticising the TRS government, and Rama Rao in particular, for abusing their powers.
Two of these victims, Chakali Srinivas and Korukanti Ganesh had already joined TRS in the past. The ‘defection’ four other victims has come as a shock to the remaining two victims, Kola Harish and Penta Banaiah. Speaking to Express, Harish said that for the last two weeks, TRS leaders had been offering Banaiah and him cash and other offers such as subsidy amount for tractors to get them to join the party. He also said the party was pressuring them into staying silent.
It is reported that both Harish and Banaiah had been protesting against Rama Rao and were put under house arrest. “But how can we bow down to TRS? How can we forget our injuries?,” Harish asks. Both men said they would continue their fight for justice against and would not rest until the policemen who subjected them to torture were punished by the court.
Out of the eight victims, six have begun supporting TRS now. What prompted their volteface is hard to say. Was it pressure from TRS leaders or the promise of rewards to switch sides? Or was it just genuine change of heart? Whatever the reason may be, now there are only two victims who are perhaps shouting into the void in their demand for justice. How this bifurcation of the victims bodes for the ruling party remains to be seen.