Cong using police to intimidate Jagan supporter: YSR Cong

YSR Congress Party leader Ambati Rambabu alleged that the Congress party was leaving no stone unturned to intimidate the voters of the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency for which by-elections would be held on May 8.

Mr Rambabu told media persons at the Secretariat on Friday that the one-sided police behaviour in Kadapa district was part of the ruling party’s attempts of intimidating the voters and the supporters of YSR Congress Party. The Congress was taking the help of police officers with an ulterior motive to win the by-elections, he alleged.

The YSR Congress Party delegation headed by Mr Rambabu lodged a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal against the alleged large-scale malpractices by the police personnel in Kadapa district with the support of the government.

In a written complaint, supported by audio clippings and video CDs, Mr Rambabu, and vice president of the YSR Congress K Shivakumar, and others informed the CEO that 20 Ministers had been camping in the Kadapa district to promote the campaign of their party nominee and Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy.

After the announcement of the poll schedule, the police personnel loyal to the ruling party were transferred at the sub-division level in the district, the YSR Congress leaders pointed. The police officers, instead of working for the upkeep of the peace and law and order situation, were found misusing their position, they charged. The CEO was asked to take steps to check the police intervention in the campaign process.

The delegation brought to the notice of CEO specific cases wherein the police inspectors were seen harassing the followers of YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy at the police station.

The YSR Congress delegation disclosed that in Puttayapalli village of the district, on April 17, a Circle Inspector K Ulasaiah belonging to Budvel police station started harassing Sarpanch Jayaramreddy for siding with the YSR Congress Party.

Mr Ulasaiah was transferred back to Budvel police station obviously to support the ruling party.

Rural Badvel Police Station Sub Inspector Purushottam Raju on April 17 was caught transporting Rs 25 lakh at the check-post. The case was hushed up by the authorities concerned, the delegation charged.

On the same day, another SI Ranganayakulu of Kazipet police station in Kadapa threatened and injured one K Venugopala Reddy who was campaigning for Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, the team told the CEO.

They continued that Inspector of Jammalamadugu, Sharief on April 21, picked up one Mohammed Mahboob Peera and assaulted him for supporting YSR Congress.

Similarly Jayaram Reddy was terrorised by the police and as a result, he was admitted to the local hospital for heart stroke.

In Vempalle Mandalam more than 6,000 bind over cases were filed against YSR Congress Party with the sole motive to threaten the supporters of the party at the behest of the ruling Congress the delegation alleged.

The sought the CEO’s immediate attention, as all these cases were going unchecked and no complaints were being registered.