http://www.the-hindu.com/2000/09/06/stories0406201l.htm
The Hindu, 6th Sept.2000
By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, SEPT.5. A large number of Dalits staged a dharna in front of the Obulavaripalle police station and before the office of the Kodur Circle Inspector, Mr. Bhaskara Rao, on Tuesday decrying the police apathy in the mysterious death of a Dalit woman three months ago.

The Dalits alleged that the Obulavaripalle police were shielding the culprit, Mr. Sudhakar Naidu, who allegedly buried the woman's body after cutting it into two pieces following her electrocution in his agricultural fields.

A Dalit woman, Mooratla Subbamma, belonging to Mangalampalle village in Obulavaripalle mandal, died due to electrocution while crossing live electric wire fencing in nearby fields of Mr. Sudhakar Naidu, on June 23, but the police were trying to hush up the case, alleged the general secretary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Mission, Mr. A. Sampath Kumar.

He further alleged that the land owner, Mr. Sudhakar Naidu, discreetly removed Subbamma's body, chopped it into two pieces and buried in two different pits. As her whereabouts were not known, her husband, Mr. Chinna Siddhaiah, lodged a complaint in Obulavaripalle police station, on three occasions, that his wife was missing. The police ultimately registered a case under Cr. No. 30/2000 on August 7, he stated.

Meanwhile, the body parts pulled out by stray dogs were spotted by some women who went to pick up twigs and they informed the villagers. The villagers identified the body with the help of the clothes and informed the Obulavaripalle police on August 31. The police neither pursued the case nor sent the body for post-mortem or chemical examination, he alleged.

Some local political leaders and the Obulavaripalle police officials were pressuring Mr. Chinna Subbaiah to strike a compromise by accepting some money from the accused, which the widower turned down and demanded bringing the culprits to book. Mr. Sampath Kumar demanded an enquiry and suspension of the erring police officials, who were trying to met out injustice to the bereaved Dalit family, by trying to favour the accused.

Mr. Sampath Kumar lamented that police attacks were not only growing on Dalits but the police were also shielding the culprits who were responsible for such attacks. He warned that a district- wide agitation would be launched if the police did not mend their ways.