AP: Ambedkar statue desecration; main accused surrenders

Rajahmundry (AP), Jan 30: With the Republic Day celebrations in Andhra Pradesh hampered after some miscreants engaged in desecrating B R Ambedkar’s statues in East Godavari, the case has achieved a breakthrough when the main accused in the act has surrendered before police.

The accused identified as Gandham Pallam Raju surrendered on Monday. The police, meanwhile, were also successful in foiling attempts by Dalit leaders to make the issue big. They were stopped from protesting and many from the community were arrested as a precautionary measure.

The police stated that Gandham Pallam Raju, allegedly involved in the desecration of the statues, surrendered before the district police. He was wanted in another case six months back involving the attack perpetrated against Tollywood actor Rajasekhar and his wife Jeevitha while they were shooting in Amlapuram division. There are many other cases filed against him.

The police added that they were on the lookout for eight other accused who also engaged in defiling the statues. The total number of arrest made so far in this case has become 4 now.

Among those arrested include Jupudi Prabahkar Rao, Gollapalli Surya Rao, Bojja Tharakam and K Nirmala Kumari. They were arrested when they were traveling to Amlapuram in East Godavari district. They were scheduled to attend a meeting in the backdrop of the defiling of the Ambedkar statues. They said, “We are organising the meeting to discuss the reasons for desecration of the statues and not for other things."

The dalit leaders also condemned the arrests made regarding the incident citing that the police were targeting innocent people.

With the chances that the incident could flare-up to something bigger, security was heightened in the district following the leader’s arrest. The police stated that the accused defiled the statues under the influence of alcohol. MLC K Durgesh, meanwhile launched an indefinite fast in Rajahmundry demanding arrest of the "real" culprits.

TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao condemned the desecration of Ambedkar's statues. He added that the TRS will support the bandh call by some groups in the state.

OneIndia News