Nobody burnt Ratnachal Express; all 41 accused walk free
It may be recalled that the AP government had dropped all the cases, against hundreds of activists of the Kapu community
By Newsmeter Network Published on 2 May 2023 2:06 AM GMT
Vijayawada: Vijayawada Railway Court on Monday acquitted all 41 accused in the 2016 Ratnachal Express burning case.
The incident had taken place in Tuni of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. The prosecution failed to produce proper evidence against the accused to prove their role in the incident.
The court acquitted all 41 accused in the case including minister Dadisetti Raja, Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and others.
It may be recalled that the AP government had dropped all the cases, against hundreds of activists of the Kapu community.
The railway court has found fault with the investigation officers for failing to collect proper evidence. The court asked as to why action should not be initiated against the investigation officers of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) police. The court observed that many passengers of the ill-fated train suffered in the incident, but the prosecution could only produce only one passenger as an eyewitness in the case.
It may be recalled that on January 31, 2016, hundreds of members from the Kapu community attended a public meeting under the banner Kapu Garjana (roar of Kapus) held by the then minister Mudragada Padmanabham at Tuni in East Godavari district to demand the inclusion of the Kapus in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category and, provision of reservations for them, as promised by the TDP before 2014 elections.
During the meeting, the protestors attacked public properties and set Ratnachal Express on fire when it halted at Tuni railway station. Panic-stricken passengers had jumped out of the train. Though there were no casualties, a few railway employees were injured during the arson. Later, Padmanabham and several Kapu agitators were arrested by the police and multiple cases were registered against them.
The prosecution failed to establish the case even after five long years. Since there is no conclusive evidence to prove the role of the accused in arson, the court quashed the case.
