YSR Congress Party leader gets 18 months in jail for assaulting, humiliating Dalit youths 27 years ago

In 1996, Trimurthulu, then an Independent MLA from Ramachandrapuram in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and the eight other accused allegedly humiliated the two Dalit youths and beat up three others at a property owned by Trimurthulu.

The five youths — K Chinna Raju, D Venkataramana, C Pattabi Ramayya, K Ganapati, and P Venkataramana — were allegedly forcibly picked up from Venkatayapalem village in East Godavari district.

According to the prosecution, Trimurthulu bore a grudge against the five and accused them of opposing him and supporting the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) during the 1994 Assembly elections.

Days after the incident, on January 4, 1997, the police registered an FIR and booked Trimurthulu under various sections of the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act. He was arrested on January 7 and released on bail.

Two of the five victims, and the main witness in the case, Chinna Raju’s brother K Raju, died during the trial.

Following Tuesday’s verdict, a relative of Chinna Raju said, “Today, finally after 27 years, they (the five Dalit youths) have got justice.”

“Justice was delayed but it has been delivered, although we feel Trimurthulu should have received a harsher sentence,” said a relative of Ganapati.

Trimurthulu, who was released on bail, said he will appeal against the verdict. “I am innocent and a victim of circumstances. I will contest this verdict in the High Court. I appeal to my supporters not to panic and help me campaign,’’ he said.