AP orders probe into SC atrocities

HYDERABAD, March 25: The Andhra Pradesh government today conceded to the Opposition8217;s demand for a crime branch 8211; Criminal Investigation Department probe into atrocities on Dalits and weaker sections at Jinnaram village in Medak district on March 13.

Replying to the discussion on the issue under Rule 304 in the state assembly, Home Minister A Madhava Reddy said the government would also consider paying compensation to the victims under the Scheduled Castes Atrocities Act. He said a delegation of the SC Welfare Committee of the assembly would also be sent to the village. The minister said two Communist Party of India CPI workers were killed and nine injured in a clash between CPI and Congress workers in the village. The injured included four Congress workers. Cases were booked against the workers of both the parties, he added. Reddy said 28 Congress activists were arrested and remanded to judicial custody in connection with the incident. Efforts were on to apprehend the remaining 23 accused, who were stillat large. None of the accused, belonging to the CPI were arrested so far, he added. He said as per the report submitted by the district collector, it was not a case of atrocities committed on Scheduled Castes SC but group clashes.