Kova Laxmi slams govt over Jainoor incident

She along with former Asifabad legislator Athram Sakku and and leaders of tribal rights organisations addressed pressmen after submitting a representation to SP DV Srinivas Rao here on Saturday.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Local MLA Kova Laxmi slammed the government for failing to take stringent action against the accused person who allegedly attempted to rape and murder a tribal woman from Jainoor mandal.

She along with former Asifabad legislator Athram Sakku and and leaders of tribal rights organisations addressed pressmen after submitting a representation to SP DV Srinivas Rao here on Saturday.

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Laxmi alleged that the government was showing disinterest in taking appropriate action against the perpetrator of the heinous crime against a 45-year-old tribal woman. She stated that around 18 tribals were arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the violent protest that sparked communal clashes in Jainoor mandal centre.

Expressing concern over poor safety of tribal women in the State, she wanted the government to stop spree of the arrests of the tribals. She demanded a death penalty against the accused person. She opined that the tribals were innocent and resorted to damage of shops in a fit of rage after learning that the woman meted out injustice.

Athram Sakku said that tribals set commercial establishments on fire in an attempt to protect their identity. He observed that it was unfair to picturize the incident as a communal conflict instead of being perceived as a social problem.

He wanted the government to constitute a special committee for protection of statutory rights of tribals. He sought it to take steps to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in future and to take stern action against the culprit at the earliest.

BRS leader Marsakola Saraswathi, Rai centre Sarmedi or head of tribal advisory councils Motiram, leaders of the rights organisations Bursa Pochaiah, Madavi Gunavanth Rao, Sidam Shankar and many others were present.