Kurupam tribal deaths are State murders: YSRCP

Visakhapatnam, October 8: YSR Congress Party delegation comprising Araku MP Dr. Gummadi Tanuja Rani, former Deputy Chief Minister Pamula Pushpa Srivani, former Minister Dr. Seediri Appalaraju, and Parvathipuram district president Shatrucharla Parikshit Raju visited the tribal girl students from Kurupam Gurukul School undergoing treatment for Hepatitis-A at King George Hospital (KGH), Visakhapatnam.
After meeting the students and interacting with doctors and parents, the leaders lashed out at the coalition government for its negligence, declaring that the deaths of two students and the infection of nearly 170 others amounted to “government murders.” They said the outbreak was caused by contaminated food and drinking water, with no chlorination or sanitation, and the government failed to administer preventive vaccination. They strongly condemned ministers for blaming the incident on “personal hygiene” of students, calling such remarks shameful and discriminatory.
Pamula Pushpa Srivani, former Deputy CM, said this was the first time in history that so many children in a single school were infected at once. She stated that medical records were tampered with to hide the true cause of death and demanded that the National ST Commission, Human Rights Commission, and even the courts take suo motu action.
Dr. Gummadi Tanuja Rani, MP from Araku, said the tragedy exposed the government’s utter disregard for tribal children. “Over 170 girls fell sick because drinking water was mixed with human waste. Even after the outbreak, no vaccination, no isolation, and no timely treatment were provided. Two young lives have been lost only because of government failure. Under YS Jagan’s leadership such incidents never happened, because tribals were treated like our own children,” she said.
Dr. Seediri Appalaraju, former minister, noted that 77 children were in KGH and 140 more across other hospitals. “Parents are crying that being born tribal has become a curse. Instead of accountability, ministers are blaming victims. This is not negligence alone – it is discrimination. An ST Atrocities case must be filed,” he demanded.

The YSRCP leaders said while the Naidu, Pawan and Lokesh finds money to privatize liquor shops and fly in helicopters, it failed to protect innocent tribal children. “These are not natural deaths – these are government murders,” they declared.