The failure of police machinery to enforce law and order in Andhra Pradesh in general and in Macherla assembly segment in particular is SHOCKING. Sadly, the police are acting in cohort with the ruling YSRCP goons and henchmen and denying democratic rights to political activists associated with opposition parties. 

It started in 2019…

Earlier in 2019, YSRCP goons attacked Dalits in Macherla assembly segment for voting in favour of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2019 general elections. Hundreds of Dalits were driven out of their homes and villages by the ruling YSRCP goons and despite prolonged political fight by the TDP for safe return of Dalits to their homes, the police failed to take action against the perpetrators of the crime till date. 

It is distressing to note that violence and physical elimination of activists of different communities is the order of the day in Macherla constituency for several months now. The ruling party and its functionaries have gone unscathed when police failed to book the culprits when 16 murders took place by the private armies of local ruling party politicians. People still recall when the residents of the town and some villages nearby were to leave their habitations and stay in temporary relief camps at district headquarters for months to save their life in 2019. There is no law and order worth the name in the entire constituency and the life of an ordinary citizen is without any enforceable rights bestowed by the Constitution. 

Massive Violence perpetrated during the panchayat elections

The same spectacle of lawlessness ensued during the panchayat elections in 2020 with YSRCP goons attacking TDP leaders visiting Macherla town in broad daylight and no action was initiated by the police. The violent attacks in Macherla Assembly segment by the ruling YSRCP since June 2019 had not only shattered the peace, but also are threatening the democratic fabric in the region. For instance, 16 people were killed in Macherla assembly segment alone ever since the YSRCP assumed power in 2019. All the 16 people were brutally killed in broad daylight in a pre-meditated plan. It is appalling to note that in spite of such severe crimes in Macherla Assembly segment, the police are yet to take action. 

However, with the latest spate of violent attacks in Macherla assembly segment it is clear that police are acting hand in glove with the ruling YSRCP henchmen. The violence instigated and continued by the ruling YSRCP in cohorts with the police is reminiscent of barbarian and uncivilized society with ruling YSRCP goons marching the streets of Macherla town with sticks, stones, rods and other deadly weapons attacking people on the streets indiscriminately and setting vehicles on fire. 

Pre-planned conspiracy

In a pre-planned conspiracy, the police conducted a cordon search in 7th Ward in Macherla in order to foist a false case against TDP Macherla constituency in-charge Shri Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy on the morning of 16th December 2022, Friday to ensure that TDP supporters cannot defend themselves in the wake of attack by the ruling YSRCP goons. Later, on the same day while Shri Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy was campaigning in 13th& 14th wards of Macherla town against the anti-people policies of the ruling YSRCP government, the YSRCP goons attacked the campaign. Immediately Shri Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy alerted the local Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) about the ruling YSRCP attack against TDP supporters. The police reached the spot but forcefully took away the complainant Shri Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy and dispersed TDP cadres through lathicharge.  

4 hours of Mayhem without Police intervention

The police pressurized Shri Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy to leave Macherla town and sent him away. At this juncture, it was reported that Mr. Pinneli Venkata Rami Reddy brother of local MLA from YSRCP had stepped on to the streets with his private army consisting of around 300 goons. Mr. Pinneli Venkata Rami Reddy along with Mr. Turaka Kishore had systematically attacked TDP supporters injuring them severely. Further, the YSRCP mob attacked and ransacked houses of TDP leaders by setting them on fire. Simultaneously, TDP office was attacked and set on fire along with torching several vehicles too. The unruly YSRCP mob attacked women in homes of TDP supporters and innocent passersby on the streets of Macherla. 

Simultaneously, several shops belonging to TDP leaders and supporters were ransacked and houses were damaged. All this was being carried out by the YSRCP goons, it seems with the complete cooperation by the police. Further, the YSRCP goons misbehaved with women going on streets and caused immense inconvenience to the public in Macherla town. Vehicles of TDP leaders, Shri K. Durga Rao, Shri Mallikarjuna, Shri Julakanti Bramhananda Reddy, Shri P. Anajaiah were set on fire along with another 10 two-wheelers. Similarly, vehicles belonging to Shri Gogula Venkata Rami Reddy, Shri Polireddy were damaged, while houses of Shri Yerram Polireddy and Shri Rajaboina Madhu were damaged and set on fire along with the TDP office. 

It is heart-rending to note that children of TDP activists had to lock themselves up in their homes or hid under tables to secure themselves from the rampaging goons who entered homes to break down homes and steal whatever they can lay their hands on. A 12-year-old girl child locked herself in the bathroom for 6 hours, passing time in extreme fear even as the mob rampaged through the house while her parents were away at work. This was a deliberate act to instill fear and disturb the families and children psychologically. 

Police hand-in-glove with the ruling party

It is clear from the gathering that the entire attack has been orchestrated as per the pre-meditated plan by the ruling YSRCP in connivance with the police and accordingly large number of YSRCP goons assembled. Expectedly, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Palnadu district, Mr. Y. Ravi Sankara Reddy had issued statements claiming that it was a small incident and strongly defended the ruling YSRCP. As a result, there is a danger that the victims may lose faith in the system leading to complete breakdown of law and order. Even, after 48 hours of the incident many victims are afraid to return to their homes in the wake of violence carried out by the ruling YSRCP goons in connivance with the police. 

Role of Higher Police Officials 

The role of higher police officials in creating and continuing this lawlessness and more so in the wake of recent incidents is alarming. It is strongly believed that Mr. P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, DGP (Intelligence), Mr. Trivikram Varma, DIG, Guntur Range and Mr. Y. Ravi Sankar Reddy, SP, Palnadu who appears to be more inclined to please the ruling party than their commitment to uphold the constitutional duties, have enabled this jungle raj to benefit the ruling party in the ensuing elections by eliminating political opponents. The negligence, if not connivance, of these officials stand as the bane of the constitutional values and any impartial enquiry by any constitutional authority will unearth their collaboration in these episodes. 

On 18th December 2022, Mr. Trivikram Varma, DIG, Guntur Range in the presence of Mr. Y.Ravi Sankar Reddy, SP, Palnadu district conducted a press meet. It is clear from this press meet that the police are trying to move heaven and earth to defend the barbaric attack by the ruling YSRCP goons. Going by the following issues addressed by the DIG, Guntur Range, it is evident enough to establish the role of police in Macherla violent attack by the YSRCP goons. 

15 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

1. Why did the DIG show only the videos consisting of TDP victims defending themselves against the YSRCP perpetrators? 

2. Interestingly, in spite of 48 hours after the incident, DIG does not have any answer as to who was involved first in stone pelting?

3. If police had no information regarding TDP campaign in 13th and 14th wards, why did the police conduct cordon search in 7th ward on 16th December 2022?

4. Why is it that the SP and DIG are not scrutinizing call records of DSP and local CI, where TDP leaders gave prior information about their campaign?

5. Why was proper security not provided in spite of prior information about TDP campaign to the police?

6. Why are the DIG and SP in a hurry to brush aside the incident as ‘factional violence’?

7. When the police sent away Shri Julakanti Bramhananda Reddy out of Macherla, how is it possible for him to instigate violence as claimed by the DIG? 

8. How is it that police were unable to control the unruly YSRCP mob for three hours?

9. If there is Section 30 in force in Macherla, how did the police allow YSRCP goons to assemble with deadly weapons?

10. How is it that the SP, Palnadu district failed to see the houses ransacked, women robbed, houses burnt along with vehicles and TDP office by the YSRCP unruly mob?

11. TDP supporters attempted to defend themselves from the brutal violence of the YSRCP mob. If such is the case, how is it that 24 victims from TDP are included in the FIR No. 198/2022 as accused, where as only 9 perpetrators from YSRCP are included as accused in the FIR No. 199/2022?

12. Why is it that TDP supporters are framed under section 307, where as perpetrators belonging to YSRCP are not booked under section 307? 

13. Further, when TDP leaders are being prevented from paying commiserate visits to the homes of TDP cadre by the police saying that Section 144 is in place, while YSRCP MLA Mr. Pinneli Ramakrishna Reddy is allowed to visit YSRCP perpetrators? 

14. Why is it that police are evincing keen interest in arresting victims from TDP and not arresting perpetrators from the ruling YSRCP?

15. If the whole incident is not staged by DG (Intelligence), DIG-Guntur Range and SP, Palandu district in cohorts with the ruling YSRCP, then is it not the failure on the part of DG (Intelligence), DIG-Guntur Range and SP, Palandu district in preempting and controlling such large scale violence?

This incident in Macherla points out the gross failure on the part of the police. Further, the police instead of controlling the mob of YSRCP goons have taken TDP’s leaders into custody and forced many of them out of Macherla town. It is unfathomable as to why the police acted blatantly one side favouring the ruling YSRCP goons. This large scale violent attack is of barbaric nature and is reminiscent of uncivilized societies and is concomitant to the attack on democratic fabric of our society and History will not kindly remember the role of police for violent incidents in Macherla. 

We humbly request Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs of India Sri Amit Shah Ji and Hon’ble Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Sri Arun Kumar Mishra Ji to intervene and immediately support and render justice to the victims of ruling YSRCP’s brutal attack. 

4 ACTION POINTS  

1. Conduct detailed inquiry and initiate action against the police officials who connived with the YSRCP goons;

2. Take necessary steps to support and render justice to the victims;

3. Provide adequate security to Shri Julakanti Bramhananda Reddy, Constituency in-charge, TDP;

4. Take appropriate steps in order to prevent such incidents being repeated in the future and to safeguard democracy, law & order in Palnadu region