Rajahmundry: Kapu community leader Mudragada Padmanabham, who called off his hunger strike, today alleged that the police ill-treated him and his family members in barbaric manner and used filthy language against them.
Padmanabham, who looked very weak, further alleged that the way police treated them is an affront and on first day of hunger strike police entered his house forcibly by opening and damaging doors. They treated his wife, daughter-in-law and other family members very badly, he alleged. He asked whether it was wrong to ask Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to fulfill promises he made to the Kapu community. “I am just asking him to implement the promises he gave to the community,” he said.
Expressing concern over the atrocious behavior of police towards him and his family members, Padmanabham said no political leader in the country would have been experienced such a grave insult as he was treated. “They (police) behaved with me as if I am a terrorist just for demanding that the Chief Minister fulfill demands of the Kapu community for reservation, Padmanabham said. “Though they treated us badly, I will be happy if the government announced reservation for Kapus otherwise he will continue his fight for getting reservation to his community”, Padmanabham said.
Later, Padmanabham and his wife Padmavathi have left the Rajahmundry Government Hospital for his Kirlampudi residence in the morning and reached Kirlampudi to a tumultuous welcome at around 11.15 am. Curiously, he left for Kirlampudi in a police van. He reportedly insisted that he be taken back in a police van. The police have virtually clamped down prohibitory orders all along the route. They took the whole route into their control and ensured that no rallies or gatherings take place en route.
Nothing is known about the health condition of the Kapu leader, though official sources said his condition is stable.
Mudragada said he was deeply hurt by the way the police behaved with him and his family members. He said they used expletives against his son, wife and daughter-in-law. “They thrashed my son and used cuss words against my daughter-in-law,” he said as his eyes became moist. They bundled my wife, who endured three major surgeries, into a car in the cruel manner”, he said. Mudragada said while he would not demand any action against the cops, who resorted to excesses, he would not celebrate any festival till his demands were met.
Earlier, Kapu JAC leader Thota Rajiv said they were ready to cooperate with the government, but are unable to trust them. (NSS)