-Police beating blamed for Narayana’s death: Ramaiah
-Dalit harassed over a theft in Gayatri Sugar Factory
AMARAVATI: TDP politburo member Varla Ramaiah on Tuesday urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to inquire into police beating allegedly leading to the death of a Dalit brick factory worker in Podalakuru police station limits in Nellore district.
Ramaiah wrote a letter to the NHRC Chairman here, stressing the need for the actual reasons for the ‘suspicious death’ of Udayagiri Narayana, 38 years, in Kandamuru village in Nellore rural mandal.
The TDP leader said that the dead body of Narayan was found hanging on a tree outside the village. The death took place after the police allegedly harassed him in the name of a theft of electrical equipment from the Gayatri Sugar Factory.
Ramaiah deplored that contemporary Andhra Pradesh has become a hub for gross violations of fundamental rights and basic human rights by a section of police officials in connivance with the ruling YSRCP leaders. Violent attacks against Dalits have increased in number and they were ill-treated and manhandled by the police without any hesitation.
Expressing concern, the TDP leader said Udayagiri Narayana belonging to SC-Madiga community came to Kandamuru village ten years ago to earn livelihood. Earlier, he used to work as a truck driver. Due to an accident case two years back, Narayana has been working as a daily wage labourer. Prior to his death under suspicious circumstances, he had been working as a labourer at a brick factory that is near Gayatri Sugar Factory.
Ramaiah said that the police picked up Narayana, suspecting his hand in theft of electric material from Gayatri Sugar Factory. In the process, the Sub-Inspector of Podalakuru Police Station beat Narayana during the inquiry. Later, on June 19, 2022, Narayana was found dead.
The TDP told the NHRC that there were visible marks of violence on the body of Narayana. His family has lost the sole breadwinner and is seeking justice. It is also learnt that the post-mortem report contains some visible injuries on the body of Narayana.
Ramaiah said that the family members allege that Narayana was beaten black and blue by the police on the pretext of eliciting the facts pertaining to the theft of electric material. Beating of Narayana is a gross violation of fundamental rights and basic human rights. In this backdrop, the NHRC should direct the Government of Andhra Pradesh for an inquiry and to provide financial compensation to the family of Narayana.
