Farmer Kotaiah from Guntur district committed suicide but many expressed doubts over this incident. The main opposition and it’s mouthpiece claimed that the farmer Kotaiah was threatened and beaten up by the police for not giving land for the control room and helipad for the CM’s chopper landing. Upset with the police’s action, Kotaiah committed suicide is what, YSRCP alleged.
However, countering the allegations, AP IT minister Nara Lokesh said, Kotaiah’s farm land and helipad has no connection and shared couple of pictures of the newly constructed helipad. He also clarified that the police who got to know about Kotaiah consuming pesticide, rushed to the spot and one of the police personnel carried him on the shoulder till the vehicle which was arranged to shift him to the nearest hospital.
There are reports that police have manhandled farmer Kotaiah quite badly in their style and so he died. Condemning these reports, Guntur SP Rajasekhar released the video of a constable carrying Kotaiah on his shoulder. The video also reveals that one of the personnel asking what happened to the farmer and the other replies that he drank pesticide. Despite police efforts, Kotaiah breathed his last.
Getting to know about this AP CM Chandrababu Naidu ordered an enquiry and announced Rs 5 Lakh ex-gratia to the farmer’s family. Kotaiah body’s sent to post-mertem and based on the report, an action will be taken said, minister Prathipati Pulla Rao who visited Kondaveedu village on Wednesday morning.
On behalf of YSRCP, Jagan too appointed a fact finding committee to probe Kotaiah’s death. With TDP and YSRCP leaders reaching Kondaveedu village, there is a tense atmosphere. The police have deployed additional forces in the village to make sure no unwanted incident reports.