`Police Raj': Naidu claims two TDP leaders attempted suicide after harassment

In a letter to the state DGP Gautham Sawang, Naidu said a false case was registered against some TDP leaders of Mogilicherla village at the Lingasamudram police station in Prakasam district.

The TDP chief told the DGP that the Lingasamudram police had harassed and beaten up M. Srikanth and P. Rathaiah, who later took poison to avoid further persecution.

"Even minor children were taken to the police station. A thorough inquiry should be ordered into the incident. Stringent action should be taken against the erring police in order to restore public faith in policing," he said.

Naidu strongly condemned the Mogilicherla incident and alleged that the police harassment took place at the behest of ruling YSRCP leaders.

On September 5, around 6 PM, six TDP activists were picked up and taken to the police station. Mannam Srikanth and Pallapothu Rathaiah were picked up along with their families including children - one child aged around 10 years, while the other two aged around 6 years.

Former Chief Minister told the DGP that M. Srikanth and P. Rathaiah were beaten and warned to stop supporting TDP. After physically harassing, abusing, and threatening them, police released them at 2 AM of September 6.

At 6.30 AM yesterday, Lingasamduram Sub-inspector once again threatened and called them to come to the police station. Frightened and afraid of further police harassment, Srikanth and Rathaiah took poison.

The TDP chief said that after the suicide bid, the police immediately released the remaining six TDP supporters on station bail and sent them away in a hurried manner. Srikanth and Rathaiah were admitted to the hospital and were out of danger.

The arrested TDP supporters were not given any copy of the FIR. "It seemed that the 'Police Raj' is going on in the state which was only reminiscent of the oppressive Colonial Raj", he added.