YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday alleged collapse of law and order in Andhra Pradesh, and exhorts people to observe June 4 as “betrayal day,” in protest against the NDA government’s “failure to fulfil electoral promises and misuse of police power.”
Addressing the media after meeting the families of three youths who had allegedly been subjected to excesses by the police in Tenali, Mr. Reddy condemned the “highhanded behaviour” of the police.
He alleged that the youths — Rakesh, Victor, and Karimullah — had been beaten in public view and shamed along with their families. Charges were framed only after video clips of the incident began circulating on the social media, he alleged.
The youths, who belonged to Mangalagiri, included a working professional, a junior advocate, and a mechanic, he said. They were allegedly assaulted for questioning a plainclothes constable on a previous occasion. The incident reportedly occurred on April 25 and 26.
“Cases, if any, should be dealt in the courts,” Mr. Reddy said, adding the police had no authority to act as a judge or executioner. The victims belonged to Dalit and minority communities, he said, and alleged that rowdy sheets were opened post facto to justify the action.
Pointing out that prominent political figures, including Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, faced multiple legal cases, but were not subjected to similar treatment. “Is this the standard of justice?” he asked.
The former Chief Minister also criticised the alleged role of the police in supporting the activities related to liquor, sand, mining, and clubs. “The police are being used as collection agents for the TDP leaders,” he alleged, claiming that false cases were being filed indiscriminately against former Ministers, legislators, and YSRCP workers.
Similar incidents of alleged police excesses had surfaced in Dachepalli and Rajamahendravaram, he said. He also referred to cases involving social media activists Sudha Rani and Krishnaveni, who were reportedly taken from one police station to another, and booked in multiple cases.
“Such incidents are becoming the norm. The Constitution appears to have been replaced with the red book,” he said.
Published – June 03, 2025 06:33 pm IST
