Home Minister Taneti Vanita on Friday announced that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has ordered an inquiry by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the suicide by a 21-year-old Dalit youth, Bonta Mahendra, in Kovvuru town limits in East Godavari district.
Mahendra had reportedly consumed poison after the local police illegally detained him in connection with a clash over a flexi banner at Dommeru village. He was admitted to a private hospital in Vijayawada where he died while undergoing treatment on November 15.
Speaking to the media here on Friday, Ms. Vanita said; “I have appraised the Chief Minister about the incident. The Chief Minister has ordered the CID to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.”
Referring to the shifting of the youth from Rajamahendravaram to Vijayawada, Ms. Vanita admitted that she was unaware of the development. A Sub-Inspector of Police attached to the Kovvuru Town police station who placed Mahendra under illegal detention has already been suspended, Ms. Vanita said, adding that a case has been registered against him under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
