A 35-year-old Dalit activist was allegedly physically assaulted by MLA Rapaka Varaprasad, also a Dalit, his gunman and other police. Chevvukula Venkateswara Rao, a Dalit RTI activist and environmentalist from Chintalamarri village in Andhra Pradesh’s BR Ambedkar Konaseema district was also arrested by the Malikipuram police. A case has been registered against him under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code. In the incident, which took place on Saturday, July 30, the activist suffered injuries to his eyes, nose, hands and thighs.
The confrontation between Venkateswara and the MLA is reportedly said to have started over the former talking over a phone on the road. The activist however claimed that the MLA had a grudge against him for his activism, which had prevented illegal sand mining allegedly carried out by the legislator.
The activist is a member of Human Rights Forum – an organisation working on human rights.
The confrontation between Venkateswara and the MLA is reportedly said to have started over the former talking over a phone on the road. The activist however claimed that the MLA had a grudge against him for his activism, which had prevented illegal sand mining allegedly carried out by the legislator.
The activist is a member of Human Rights Forum – an organisation working on human rights.
According to the police, Venkateswara had parked his bike on Saturday at around 9.15 pm and was consuming alcohol on the road along with his friend. The MLA who was passing by picked a fight with them for occupying the road. Contesting the police version, the victim has alleged that the police have attempted to discredit his activism by portraying him as a drunkard.
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