Highway blocked over alleged custodial death in Nellore
Tension prevailed on the Manubolu Highway (NH) in Nellore on Wednesday evening when the family members and relatives of Yedukondalu, who allegedly died in police
Tension prevailed on the Manubolu Highway (NH) in Nellore on Wednesday evening when the family members and relatives of Yedukondalu, who allegedly died in police custody, placed his body on a truck and attempted to block the road to stage a protest in front of the police station demanding justice. The protestors were joined by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders. This led to traffic jam on the highway for a few hours. Hundreds of police personnel were deployed to clear the traffic.
There were heated arguments between the police personnel, family members of the deceased, YSRCP activists, and Dalit organisation leaders. The YSRCP leaders alleged that Yedukondalu died due to indiscriminate beating and torture by SI Haneef and Constable Madhav, and demanded disciplinary action against them. minister and YSRCP district president Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, MLC Meriga Muralidhar, and former MLA Kiliveti Sanjeevaiah demanded justice for the family of the deceased. Expressing anger at the police's conduct in the case, Mr. Kakani sat on the road alongside the body and demanded—on behalf of the family—an e gratia payment of ₹1 crore, a government job for a family member, and stringent action against SI Haneef and constable Madhav.
Police officials assured the protestors that justice would be served to the family of the deceased. Following the assurances, the YSRCP cadre called off the protest on the road. The YSRCP leaders warned that if action was not taken against those responsible for the death of Yedukondalu within 15 days, the party’s subsequent course of action would be very severe. Meanwhile, Congress Party district president Narapareddy Kiran Kumar Reddy demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. He alleged that the police officials were concealing several facts surrounding and that the incident points to a strong suspicion of custodial death.
He also sought immediate compensation of ₹1 crore for the bereaved family.
The BriefWire