Telangana Congress leaders on Monday lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission alleging "brutality" by the Hyderabad city police while arresting TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah during
the party's Maha Padayatra on February 7 in protest against the TRS government's decision to shift the Secretariat.
In their complaint, the TPCC leaders accused the city police of attacking the Congress leaders, especially Ponnala, in a brutal manner.
"They caught hold of him (Ponnala) and twisted his hands causing several injuries to his left arm and hand, and also a sprain in his leg. After the incident, our party president, who is about 71 years old, was forced to join a hospital for treatment," they said in the complaint.
"The behaviour of the Hyderabad city police is highly objectionable, and the police who behaved rudely should be identified and stringent action should be taken against them," the Congress leaders demanded.
They also accused the city police of setting ablaze the Congress' "Prachara Ratham" (campaign vehicle).
"The sole motive of the police is to terrorise the cadre and benefit the dictatorial government," they alleged.
"The Hyderabad city police arrested four MLCs, two MLAs, and MPs of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, and forgot the mandatory principle of informing the same to the chairpersons of their respective houses. This is nothing but the dictatorship of the police and a violation of the constitution," they said.
The Congress delegation comprised of TPCC Vice-President Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Greater Hyderabad Congress president Danam Nagender, Rajya Sabha MP M A Khan, former MP M Anjan Kumar Yadav, former Deputy Mayor Raj Kumar, ex-MLC Kamalkar Rao, ex-corporator Wajid Hussain and other leaders.
Speaking to media persons later, Danam informed that the SHC had fixed the hearing on this case on February 23, and had directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to submit a report in this regard. (INN)