: The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee has condemned the “suppression” unleashed by the police on the party leaders who were peacefully staging a protest against the “illegal” projects being constructed by the Telangana government.
The APCC has lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission alleging that the police “excesses” to foil the Congress’ protest were tantamount to abusing human rights of the party leaders.
In a memorandum, Congress leaders, including APCC vice-president S. Sailajanath, recalled that the party had obtained prior permission from the Vijayawada city Police Commissioner to stage the protest.
However, the police officials attempted to foil the protest by indulging in house arrest of senior leaders like former Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar. They alleged that the police adopted a “dictatorial attitude” in their attempt to suppress the protest
The uniformed men behaved in a brash manner with former Union and State Ministers like Killi Kruparani and they resorted to caning women protesters resulting in injuries. Over 500 Congress leaders were kept under house arrest in Krishna and Guntur districts, while party workers who were on their way to participate in the protest were detained at several places.
In addition, APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao and other leaders were prevented from entering the Prakasam Barrage area in spite of securing prior permissions. The APCC leaders requested the SHRC to take legal action against the police officials for their behaviour with the public representatives.
