Tension prevailed in Singampalli village of Rangampeta mandal in East Godavari district, after a Dalit man belonging to SC Mala caste was killed on suspicion of allegedly stealing mangoes. After killing him, the accused tried to cover up the crime and make it appear like suicide by hanging him to a fan in the Panchayat office.
The incident took place on May 29, but it came to light on Wednesday. Police have arrested 10 persons including the staff of the Panchayat office for abetting the crime.
Human rights activist Rajesh Yedida, who works for the organisation Human Rights Forum, visited the village as part of a fact-finding team. According to him, on May 29 morning, the victim, Bikki Srinivas, a resident of Gollala Mamidada which falls under Pedapudi mandal, went to drop his wife and children to Vadlamuru village--the native village of his wife. While returning, he stopped by an orchard in Singampalli village to take some rest. “He picked up some mangoes which had fallen due to heavy winds. On noticing this, the guard posted there accused him of stealing and detained him,” said Rajesh.
Srinivas was taken to the Panchayat office and brutally assaulted.
“When the accused realised that Srinivas had died due to the injuries inflicted on him, they attempted to make it appear like a suicide. So they hung him using a blanket to the ceiling fan,” Rajesh said.
However, by then, villagers of Gollala Mamidada came to know about the murder and they started gathering near the panchayat office demanding justice.
Subsequently, two of the accused surrendered before the police over fears of being lynched by the mob. The crowd refused to leave Singampalli until police arrested all the accused including the panchayat office staff.
Speaking to TNM, Pedappuram ACP Rama Rao said, “The orchard was taken on lease by Kadiyala Nageswara Rao. We have arrested him along with seven other Panchayat staff based on a complaint from the victim’s wife.”
Police have arrested the accused under three sections of IPC — 302 (murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“A total of 10 persons were involved in the crime,” the DSP added.
Meanwhile, the Revenue Department has given a compensation of Rs 4.25 lakh.