Chevella 'victim' dies

HYDERABAD: The death of a 30-year-old man allegedly due to injuries suffered in Wednesday’s police lathicharge at Chevella in Rangareddy district caused tension in the town on Friday. Hundreds of people, led by Congress MLA P Sabita Indra Reddy, staged demonstrations in the town and demanded action against the guilty.
The death of Katakam Vittal, a resident of Chevella, in the early hours of Friday forced chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to announce an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh and three acres of land and a house to his family.
The sub inspector and constable responsible for beating the farmers on Wednesday have been placed under suspension. The Congress MLA alleged that Vittal had sustained injuries in the lathicharge and died because of a haemorrhage.
Police, however, denied this and pointed out that Vittal had not been treated at any hospital nor had he complained of beating by the police.
Additional DGP (law and order) Umesh Kumar told The Times of India that an autopsy has been ordered on Vittal’s body to determine the cause of death. He said Vittal had been suffering from tuberculosis and treated for the disease.
Umesh Kumar said Chevella sub-inspector Gangaram and constable Narasimha Reddy have been suspended for the lathicharge and firing incidents pending a departmental inquiry. Hyderabad range DIG C R Naidu has been asked to camp in Chevella to monitor the developments.
Rangareddy joint collector M Ravichandra visited Chevella and announced the compensation to be given to Vittal’s family. He promised medical aid to all those injured in the lathicharge.
Meanwhile, Congress and TRS activists forced closure of shops and business establishments in several parts of Rangareddy district in response to a bandh called to protest the firing on farmers. Educational institutions and cinemas were closed.