Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested Pinipe Srikanth, son of YSR Congress Party leader and former Minister Pinipe Viswarup, in connection with the murder of a Dalit youth two years ago.
Srikanth was taken into custody by a team from Andhra Pradesh Police in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was being brought to the state on a transit warrant.
He is said to be an accused in the murder of a Dalit youth and a village volunteer, J Durga Prasad.
Police, who had been looking for Srikanth for the last few days, arrested him in Madurai and produced him before a local court to obtain a transit warrant. He was being brought to Konaseema district by road.
Srikanth denied the allegations against him. “I am a doctor. I know only saving lives and not taking lives,” he told media persons in Madurai while the police were taking him away after a medical examination at a hospital. He alleged that he was illegally arrested in the case.
Durga Prasad was killed on June 6, 2022, after the riots in Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema district.
The police earlier questioned the victim’s friend and YSRCP social media convenor, V Dharmesh. He was arrested on October 18. The police were on the lookout for Srikanth and four other accused.
The deceased was said to be a friend of Dharmesh and Srikanth and actively participated in the party activity.
The motive behind the Dalit youth’s murder is not known. Police believe that he was killed under a well-planned conspiracy.
Dharmesh had allegedly taken Durga Prasad to Kotipalli dock on a two-wheeler. Four men followed them in a car. The victim was then taken onto the boat, and the accused then strangulated Durga Prasad to death.
In response to the victim’s complaint, police registered a missing case. Police later found his body, and the autopsy revealed that he was murdered.
Viswarup was the transport minister in the previous government of the YSR Congress Party. A mob set his house in Amalapuram afire in May 2022 during the violence over the renaming of the Konaseema district. However, the YSRCP leader and his family members were not at home.
–IANS
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