Probe Lakshmi’s case - MLA Sunitha Reddy
Probe into Sri Lakshmi case promised
HYDERABAD, JUNE 29. The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said on Tuesday that the enquiry into the recent murder in Vijayawada of Ravuri Sri Lakshmi, the MCA student, would be time-bound. He said a special court would be set up if necessary.
Replying to queries by members after making a statement on the issue in the Assembly, the Minister said the 12 police teams constituted to trace the alleged accused, Yelchuri Manohar, had yielded results. The accused had been taken into custody in Chennai on Monday and was being brought to Vijayawada, he said.
The hour-long debate in the House saw poor participation of the women members, none of who spoke except Sunitha Lakshma Reddy. There was mild furore when, soon after the Home Minister completed his statement, the Legislative Affairs Minister, K. Rosaiah, said a CID enquiry into the closure of the rowdy sheet against Manohar would be ordered. The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, wondered if Mr. Rosaiah had no faith in the Home Minister’s reply. Their speeches showed a lack of coordination, he said. While TDP members thumped their desks, Congress members protested loudly. Mr. Rosaiah said he had only added to the Home Minister’s statement.
Mr. Naidu wanted to know if Manohar had surrendered or had been arrested by the police. Anam Ramanarayan Reddy of the Congress wanted the police to look into the support Manohar allegedly got from a former MP, who, he said, was now an MLA. Ms. Sunitha Lakshma Reddy demanded stringent action against the accused, and N. Narsimhulu of the CPI(M) wanted closure of the rowdy sheet probed. C. Venkat Reddy of the CPI demanded action against the Anti-Goonda Squad (AGS). P. Janardhan Reddy of the Congress suggested action against the principal of the college.
The Home Minister said no one involved in the incident would be spared. He confirmed that Sri lakshmi had complained against Manohar to the principal of the college and had lodged a complaint with the Vijayawada Commissioner of Police in October last year. The Commissioner had referred it to the AGS, which had visited the college twice but had been unable to trace Manohar, he said.
Mr. Reddy said the AGS Inspector of Police, Laxmipathi, had been suspended and the Director-General of Police had been asked to order an enquiry into lapses by senior supervisory Officers, if any. He said Manohar had a criminal background and a rowdy sheet had been opened against him in the Ongole I Town Police Station in October 1997. It had been closed in January 2001, he said. Manohar had been involved in two other cases, including a murder, but had been acquitted. In another case, his punishment had been reduced by six months by the Mandal Executive Magistrate, he said.
Source: Hindu June 30 2004