Villagers stage protest at Dammapet police station, alleging assault by SI

Villagers staged a protest at Dammapet police station in Kothagudem alleging that an SI assaulted two farmers and tried to implicate them in a false gambling case. Police assured an inquiry following intervention by the DSP

Kothagudem: Tension prevailed at the Dammapet police station in the district on Wednesday as a group of villagers staged a protest, alleging that SI Sai Kishore Reddy had indiscriminately assaulted two farmers who were on their way to work in the fields.

They further claimed that the SI was attempting to falsely implicate the farmers in a gambling case with which they had no connection. The protesters entered into heated arguments with the police during the protest.

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The farmers, Lanka Hanumantha Rao and Chinna Mallaiah, residents of Duradapadu village, stated that they were returning home after finishing their farm work when they were intercepted by the SI.

The SI, who was reportedly on his way to conduct raids on gambling dens, accused them of engaging in gambling and beat them severely with sticks. The villagers alleged that the SI showed a discriminatory attitude towards the Dalit farmers Hanumantha Rao and Mallaiah.

Paloncha DSP Sathish Kumar arrived at the police station and held discussions with the protesters. He assured them that if they submitted a written complaint regarding the incident, an inquiry would be conducted and appropriate action would be taken if the SI was found at fault.

Following the DSP’s assurance, the villagers withdrew their protest. Meanwhile, the SI maintained that he had not beaten anyone and that the farmers in question were among the six taken into custody for engaging in gambling on Tuesday.