Police stop women organisation JAC members from visiting Lagacherla

In the melee, the police allegedly tore the clothes of the women members.

Vikarabad: Even a week after the untoward incidents in Lagacherla, restrictions continue to be imposed in the village and nearby villages. On Tuesday, members of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) of women organisations were denied permission to visit Lagacherla and Rotibanda thanda and speak to the aggrieved families.

In the melee, the police allegedly tore the clothes of the women members. Condemning the excesses of the government and the police, the JAC members questioned why they were being restricted from visiting the village and interacting with the women there.

The JAC members, including Sandhya, Padmaja Shaw, Sister Lizzy, Jhansi, Anasuya, Geetha and others wanted to interact with tribal farmers, especially women, over the atrocities being committed against them by the police and the government.

It is a fact finding study being taken up by the JAC in Lagacherla and Rotibanda thanda, the members said, adding that many complaints were being lodged by women from the villages over the assaults committed on them, besides being abused by the police.

Prior to visiting the village, the JAC members said they spoke to the District Superintendent of Police and MLC Kodandaram as well. But still, they were stopped by the police at Tunkimetla village under Bomraspet mandal.

Even after the JAC members explained that they would speak to the families in private without involving any media, the police did not permit them.

Irked over the police denial, JAC member Sandhya asked the officers to join them in visiting the village and speak to the aggrieved families. Yet, they did not permit them from heading towards Lagacherla.

If the police had not committed any assaults on the women, why were they worried and denying permission to speak to the aggrieved families. Given the police highhandedness and excesses, there were many apprehensions over the entire episode at Lagacherla, the JAC members said.