My son was killed by police, alleges mother of missing youth in Vijayawada

Family members of Gade Sai Krishna (26), who has been missing for the last one month, have alleged that the Krishnalanka police of NTR Commissionerate tortured and beat him to death in custody. They demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government order a judicial probe into the issue and book all those responsible for it.

“My son was picked up by the police and taken to Krishnalanka police station. He has not returned since,” Sai Krishna’s mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, told the media on Wednesday.

“Accusing my son (Sai Krishna) of being involved in some cases, the police beat him to death. When I went to Krishnalanka police station a few days ago, Circle Inspector Nagaraju said that Sai Krishna died. He misbehaved with me,” Ms. Vijaya Lakshmi alleged.

Victim’s maternal uncle, Navarang, alleged that the police branded Sai Krishna as a criminal and beat him to death in custody.

“Is this friendly policing? If Sai Krishna is alive, the police should produce him before the High Court immediately,” he said.

Sai Krishna’s mother had filed a Habeas Corpuspetition in the High Court which directed the Krishna Lanka police to produce the victim before it on June 15. As they could not produce Sai Krishna, the High Court directed the police to produce him by June 29.

Political row

Meanwhile, the case has triggered a political storm in the State, with the YSRCP leaders Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) demanding an independent probe.

YSRCP leader Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) sought either a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe or a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji blamed the police for not registering an FIR over the Sai Krishna going missing. “The police should preserve the CCTV footage at Krishnalanka police station, Call Data Recordings (CDRs) of Sai Krishna, CI Nagaraju and other police involved in the case,” he said.

CM orders probe; CI suspended

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan discussed the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna with Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta and other top police officials at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

On being briefed about the disappearance and subsequent alleged death of Sai Krishna, Mr. Naidu ordered the suspension of Krishnalanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju. He instructed that action be taken against those guilty and that the case be probed by a senior IPS officer.

Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, Director General (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Ladda, Vijayawada Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekar Babu were present.