Amaravati, Jan 19 (NationPress) Leaders of the YSR Congress Party organized a dharna outside the office of the DGP after they were denied an appointment to file a complaint concerning the gruesome murder of the party's Dalit activist, Manda Salman.

YSRCP representatives alleged that they were barred from meeting the Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta, which prompted them to stage a protest outside the office. Following this, an Additional DGP eventually received their complaint.

Former minister Merugu Nagarjuna labeled Salman's death a “government-sponsored murder” and called for a CBI investigation.

He criticized the police for not only failing to file an appropriate FIR regarding the murder but also shockingly filing a case against Salman himself.

Nagarjuna added that the leaders were initially not permitted to view Salman's remains and that the police only reacted when YSRCP president and ex-Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated he would personally oversee the burial.

He expressed concern over the lawlessness in the state, pointing out that serious crimes against women and children were also going unreported, claiming that the Constitution had been replaced by a “Red Book rule”.

Former MLA Kasu Mahesh Reddy remarked that Andhra Pradesh had fallen into a state of lawlessness, where even after the murder of a Dalit activist, police failed to take action against the assailants and instead filed complaints against the deceased. He noted that Salman's family was obstructed from conducting the last rites according to their religious customs and that authorities even required Aadhaar cards for burial. He announced that the YSRCP would pursue a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court and would continue their fight until justice was served for Salman's family.

Former minister T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu stated that YSRCP leaders were disrespected at the DGP office and questioned whether the DGP was serving the people or acting on behalf of Chandrababu Naidu. He recalled rampant violence against Dalits, demanded ₹1 crore in compensation for Salman's family, and called for action against MLA Yarapathineni Srinivas Rao.

Former minister Vidadala Rajini accused the police of neglecting their constitutional responsibilities and instead serving Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh. She asserted that SCs, STs, BCs, and minorities lacked protection, that TDP supporters were committing murders, and that even ordinary citizens could not enter police stations without political endorsement.

MLC Mondithoka Arun Kumar stated that the killing of a Dalit activist revealed the government's true character, urging Dalits to unite against what he called “barbaric rule”.

Former minister Ambati Rambabu criticized the police's handling of the situation, asserting that their repeated attempts to file a complaint were ignored, and the protest was forced upon them. He called for a high-level investigation and immediate assistance for Salman's family.