Santosh Patnaik
Vijayawada: In a swift action after a selfie video shot by a family belonging to a minority community went viral before committing suicide, the Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested a Circle Inspector and a Head Constable.
Within 24 hours of a directive by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the police arrested the CI and the head constable of Nandyal in the Abdul Salam suicide case.
Salam in the video shot before taking life near Nandyal in Kurnool district allegedly blamed police harassment as the trigger for the extreme step.
The incident caused widespread condemnation by various minority outfits. Both officers were booked under sections 323,324 & 306 r/w section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, abetment of suicide).
The police arrested CI Somasekhar Reddy and Head Constable Gangadhar immediately after CM asked top officials to take action without dilly-dallying.
Special Officer appointed by the DGP as per the directions of the CM, IGP Sankha Brata Bagchi and senior IPS officer Arif Hafeez were deployed to investigate the matter.
Within hours of the intervention, the CI of Nandyal and his colleague was suspended from duty pending investigation based on the preliminary probe carried out by the top cops. Speaking about the case, DGP Gautam Sawang said “we will not spare anyone found guilty of any offence irrespective of position one holds.”
Various minority organisations from across the State have expressed their satisfaction over the swift intervention of the CM and the subsequent action.
