Dalit youth threatens to jump from mobile tower

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Feb 26 (UNI) A Dalit youth threatened to jump from a 80-foot-high mobile tower if the police continued to harass him in the guise of interrogation in connection with a case involving the theft of a State Minister's laptop.

Police said Yarlagadda Brahmanandam (25) was questioned for the theft of the laptop belonging to Small Scale Industries Minister Gollapalli Suryarao.

Unable to bear alleged police harassment, the youth climbed the tower in Ravulapalem along the highway and threatened to jump if the police did not stop bothering him.

Traffic was paralysed for over four hours with people gathering in large numbers to witness the high drama.

Police remained silent spectators fearing any provocation could endanger the youth's life.

When repeated appeals by his friends and relatives failed to convince him, Ravulapalem Village Sarpanch Golagoti Venkata Reddy intervened and prevailed over him assuring of justice.

Sub-Inspector Lakshmana Reddy told UNI the youth was called to police station for interrogation which was only natural in any case.

He denied subjecting the youth to harassment of any kind. He made it clear it was the bounden duty of the police to question the suspects and denied doing anything illegal.

UNI XR/AP LS KP2123