The Congress has severely criticised the Rajanna Sircilla police for the brutality with which they had beaten eight people of Nerella village including five belonging to the Dalit community for opposing sand mafia and terrorising them with warnings of booking brothel cases against their families. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and CLP Leader K. Jana Reddy, who addressed the media along with senior leaders Geeta Reddy, Shabbir Ali, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Sarve Satyanarayana demanded immediate suspension of the Superintendent of Police Vishwajit for the brutal attack on the people for four consecutive days and their abusive behaviour to terrorise the victims. Mr. Vikramarka said that it was highly objectionable for an SP to scare people with threats of booking brothel cases against the family members of the victims when they objected to the third-degree methods in interrogation. Instead of taking action against the ‘sand mafia’ the police had picked up innocents and treated them in most brutal manner. “We demand the Government to remove the SP and order a probe into the sand mafia,” he said. The victims were allegedly involved in burning of a lorry carrying sand after it hit and killed a man. The victims alleged that more than 40 persons had died so far due to the rash driving of the sand-carrying lorries in their area. He said that the victims were kept in police custody for four days illegally and brutally beaten. Such was the physical condition of the victims that even the Jailor refused to admit them and referred them to the hospital. “They are being treated now with heavy police protection at the Karimnagar Government Hospital.” Mr. Vikramarka said that the Congress had called for a State wide dharna on July 25 in support of the Nerella victims followed by protests by the SC, ST, BC and Minority cells on July 26. It will be followed by a ‘Chalo Nerella’ call to give moral support to the villagers, who have been fighting against the sand mafia. The issue would be raised to draw nation’s attention to the police brutality, they said. Mr. Jana Reddy demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge and assured the people of Congress party’s support. Ms. Geeta Reddy said that it was unfortunate that women were threatened with brothel cases and asked whether Chief Minister K. Chandrasekara Rao was aware of this. Mr. Shabbir Ali alleged that IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao’s family had a link with this episode and the police now were trying to cover up the issue with false claims. He also took objection to KTR’s tweets on Digvijaya Singh and said Mr. Singh had only revealed facts and was sure that drugs case would also meet the same fate like ‘Note for Vote’, ‘EAMCET leakage’, Nayeem’s encounter and Milya lands scam.

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