Village ostracises six families

Highlights

Village Ostracises Six Families, ‘Cash-for-Vote’, Political Reasons. Visakhapatnam: Six families in Govindapuram village of Mudapaka panchayat in Pendurthi mandal in the district have been ostracised by the locals for a political reason. The families have been suffering humiliation for the last three months.

  • They live in Govindapuram in Visakhapatnam district
  • Are accused of ‘cash-for-vote’ deal by villagers
  • Not given any work nor invited to social events
  • They complained to cops on Aug 19, but no action yet

Visakhapatnam: Six families in Govindapuram village of Mudapaka panchayat in Pendurthi mandal in the district have been ostracised by the locals for a political reason. The families have been suffering humiliation for the last three months.

There are about 80 families living in the village, and most of them belong to the Yadava community. During the panchayat elections held in July, the village leaders wanted all the 360 voters to elect the candidate Chilliboyina Apparao jointly supported by the YSR Congress Party and the Telugu Desam Party. However, the Congress candidate won the Mudapaka panchayat election comprising Mudapaka, Govindapuram and Boddanaidupalem villages with a total electorate of 964.

Suspecting that the six families of Korrayi Muthyalu, Venkatarao, Appalanaidu, Lakshmanarao, and Golagani Sriramulu, and Nanalu had voted for the Congress in a `cash-for-vote’ deal, the village leaders led by Golagana Ramu, Kanakaraju, Korrayi Demudu, Salivani Apparao and Saripalli Appalanaidu declared a social boycott of the six families, Venkatarao told The Hans India on Tuesday.

“I was beaten black and blue and my trousers were also torn. Though we all belong to the same Yadava community and are close relatives, they have not been inviting us to social and family functions. As our innocent children are unaware of the issue, they want to participate in community feasts. So, we are forced to lock them up lest they should also fall victims. We are humiliated by this social boycott,” he said.

Venkatarao, who ekes out a living by arranging sound and public address systems, also alleged that his speaker equipment kept in the room attached to the community hall was thrown out. “They are not calling us for agriculture work or inviting us for any social event. They are tormenting us physically, mentally, and also depriving us of livelihood,” his old mother Muthyalu alleged. She also said they had supported the YSRCP-TDP candidate and did not take money from anybody.

The heads of the ostracised families lodged a complaint with Pendurthi police on August 19, but so far, no action was forthcoming, though they were called to the police station repeatedly, they said.

When contacted, Circle Inspector of Pendurthi K. Lakshmana Murthy told The Hans India that the case was being examined. “They are all close relatives, but have some differences politically. We are investigating and would take action as per law,” he said.

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