1 hr ago
Telangana Purification Row Triggers Cases, Counter-Complaint
A political argument took place near a farmhouse in Telangana.
Dalit workers from the Congress party held a drum protest there.
They were protesting comments allegedly made about the state Assembly Speaker, G Prasad Kumar.
Police said some BRS supporters later performed rituals using turmeric water and milk on the roads.
Three police cases were opened against several BRS supporters.
Two BRS lawmakers connected to the alleged comments had already been arrested and released on personal bonds.
The BRS says the accusations are based on misleading, AI-generated images.
Police say they collected evidence and may register more cases.
Telangana Police filed three cases against BRS supporters over alleged purification rituals in Siddipet district.
The rituals reportedly followed a Dalit Congress protest near K Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse.
Police said turmeric water and milk were sprayed where Congress workers had marched.
The cases invoke provisions of the SC/ST Act, Protection of Civil Rights Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
BRS filed a counter-complaint, claiming images used against its supporters were misleading and AI-generated.
- Who
- Telangana Police, BRS supporters, Dalit Congress workers, BRS MLCs Tata Madhusudan and Naveen Kumar Reddy, and Assembly Speaker G Prasad Kumar.
- What
- Three cases were filed over alleged purification rituals following a Dalit Congress protest, while the BRS submitted a counter-complaint disputing the evidence.
- Where
- Near K Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse in Erravalli and Varadarajpur, in Siddipet district, Telangana.
- When
- The protest and reported rituals occurred on Tuesday; the alleged comments and arrests occurred on Monday and Tuesday.
- Why
- The Congress protest followed alleged insulting comments about the Dalit Assembly Speaker and his mother; the reported rituals prompted complaints under laws protecting Dalits and civil rights.
Congress and Police Allegations
BRS Response
Whether a purification ritual occurred
Congress and Police Allegations
Congress complainants and police said BRS supporters conducted purification rituals after Dalit Congress workers left the protest area, using turmeric water and milk.
BRS Response
The BRS said images used by Congress leaders to support the accusation were misleading and AI-generated.
Meaning of the protest and rituals
Congress and Police Allegations
Dalit Congress workers held a Dappu protest to condemn alleged verbal insults directed at Speaker G Prasad Kumar and his mother.
BRS Response
BRS supporters were named in complaints and cases, but the party disputed the material being used against them.
Police response
Congress and Police Allegations
Police registered three cases under laws concerning atrocities against Scheduled Castes, civil rights, group enmity and intentional insult.
BRS Response
The BRS submitted a counter-complaint and challenged the basis of the accusations.
Key facts
- Cases filed
- Three cases were registered at Murkook Police Station under Siddipet Commissionerate limits.
- Main locations
- Erravalli and Varadarajpur villages near K Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse.
- Reported ritual
- Police said turmeric water and milk were sprayed on roads where Dalit Congress protesters had walked.
- Legal provisions
- The cases cite the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Protection of Civil Rights Act, and sections 196 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Earlier arrests
- BRS MLCs Tata Madhusudan and Naveen Kumar Reddy were arrested Tuesday and released on personal bonds.
- Police action
- Police said they collected forensic evidence, including turmeric sprayed on the roads, and may register additional cases.
- BRS response
- The BRS filed a counter-complaint, saying images used to accuse its supporters were misleading and AI-generated.
Quotes
A top Siddipet police officer
Senior Siddipet police official discussing additional complaints
“The complaint was given by M Swamy of Erravalli village stating that he had participated in the protest and soon after he and other Dalit protesters left the place, a purification ritual was conducted using turmeric water.”
indianexpress.com
“Complaints about this purification ritual have been lodged at police stations across the state. They all could be transferred as zero FIRs to Siddipet”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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