Salman’s death is a govt killing under ‘Redbook rule’

Narasaraopet, Jan 17: YSR Congress Party leaders, along with the SC Cell, staged a protest at the Ambedkar statue in Narasaraopet condemning the murder of Dalit activist Manda Salman of Pinnelli village and accusing the police of shielding the perpetrators. Former ministers and MLAs said “Red Book rule” has replaced the Constitution in Andhra Pradesh and declared Salman’s death to be a government killing. 
Addressing the media, former Gurazala MLA Kasu Mahesh Reddy said that for the past 18 months nearly 200 Dalit families have been forced out of Pinnelli village, including women and children, whose education and livelihoods have been shattered. He said Salman was beaten to death for returning to his village to see his ailing wife, and shockingly, police first booked cases against Salman while he lay in a coma, invoked weak sections against the attackers, and upgraded the case only after his death. He said police even tried to prevent Salman’s body from being brought to the village for last rites, relenting only after it was stated that Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy himself would intervene, calling it an inhuman act against a Dalit family. Former minister Vidadal Rajini said Ambedkar’s Constitution has been replaced by “Lokesh’s Red Book,” total law-and-order failure, and announced that YSRCP has provided Rs. 5 lakh immediate support to Salman’s family. Other leaders said attacks, social boycotts and caste-based violence have intensified after the elections, demanded the arrest of the accused within 24 hours, suspension of the concerned CI and SI, registration of SC/ST Atrocities Act cases including against the local MLA, and said the issue will be taken to national forums and the National SC/ST Commission. They warned that the party will intensify statewide and national-level protests until justice is delivered to Salman’s family and those responsible are punished.