Villager fatally thrashed by cop for playing cards

Kurnool: A resident of Neraniki, in Holagunda mandal, Boya Mallayya (32), died on Monday after allegedly being thrashed by a constable. The Alur police pounced on six villagers who were playing cards, following a tip-off. They seized over Rs.7,000. The incident took place near the Anjaneya Swamy Temple, even as a crowd watched.

The policeman was claimed to have told the gathering that he would show them how the ‘Devaragattu Karra Samu’ was conducted. The constable had severely beaten Mallayya with a lathi and took him to the police station. After his condition turned serious, the police allegedly left him in the village. Villagers who shifted him to the hospital accused the police of fatally assaulting Mallayya. However, Adoni DSP Sivarami Reddy claimed that he died of ill-health. He said action would be taken against the police after the post-mortem report. Superintendent of Police Raghurami Reddy directed the DSP to conduct an inquiry into the incident. Tension prevailed in the area after the villagers staged a dharna before the police station. They were stopped by the police.