Erravelli ‘purification’ rituals: police book BRS supporters in 3 cases
HYDERABAD: Police have registered three separate cases against BRS supporters over alleged “purification” rituals in Erravelli and Varadarajpur villages. The incidents followed a Congress protest near former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s farmhouse, as reported by TOI.
Three cases registered
Markook police registered the cases under the Siddipet police commissionerate. They invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Protection of Civil Rights Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Gajwel rural inspector D Ravi Raju said the first case names local BRS leader and former Erravelli sarpanch Balaraju and 10 others.
Erravelli farmer B Swami filed the complaint. He alleged that Balaraju and others conducted a “purification ritual” in the village on Wednesday by sprinkling turmeric water on the streets.
“The complaint was given by B Swami, a farmer from Erravelli, alleging that Balaraju and others had performed the ritual on Wednesday in view of members of the SC community taking out a rally regarding the remarks against the speaker,” the inspector said.
Police booked the accused under the SC/ST Act, the Protection of Civil Rights Act and Sections 196 and 352 of the BNS. These sections deal with promoting enmity between groups and acts that may provoke a breach of peace.
Ritual alleged in Varadarajpur
Police registered the second case against BRS supporters Balamani, Praveen, Raju and others from Varadarajpur.
Farmer B Srikanth filed the complaint. Police said the accused allegedly carried out a similar ritual on a street in the village on Tuesday.
The alleged incident took place after Congress supporters held a protest near KCR’s farmhouse.
Third case against BRS supporters
The third case followed a complaint from B Mohan of Wargal against BRS supporter Pavani Goud and others.
Mohan alleged that he saw reports of Goud and others cleaning a street with turmeric water near the farmhouse on Tuesday. The alleged ritual followed the Congress supporters’ protest.
“We booked a case against Goud and others. We will initiate appropriate legal action,” Ravi Raju said.
Police collect evidence
Meanwhile, police and a forensic team visited the locations linked to the alleged incidents. They collected CCTV footage and soil samples as part of the investigation.
