Hyderabad: The government is stepping up its investigation into the recent incident in Vikarabad, where the District Collector was reportedly attacked. Ministers have said that they will identify those responsible by checking phone records. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka stated that the call data is being examined, and anyone involved in the attack will face consequences. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy added that people pretending to be farmers will soon be exposed to the public.
During a press conference at the Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka, along with Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, mentioned that the BRS party has admitted that some of their members were behind the attack. However, he said the party leadership still hasn’t shown any regret. He claimed that Suresh, one of the accused, was acting on someone’s instructions. The investigation team believes that call data will help reveal who was directing him. Vikramarka emphasized that the attack was pre-planned, and criticized the lack of response from Chief Minister KCR. He pointed out that, unlike earlier protests related to Mallanna Sagar, this situation involved a physical attack on a government official.
Vikramarka explained that the government had been working to ensure a smooth land acquisition process, offering a Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) package to affected individuals. However, despite these efforts, officials involved in the process were attacked. He highlighted that, in contrast to the Mallanna Sagar protests, the government is open to discussions in this case. The land acquisition is part of a plan to create industrial clusters across the state, with Kodangal, a backward area, chosen for development.
Minister Ponguleti also addressed the issue, stating that those involved in the violence were hiding behind “pink colored” masks, referring to the BRS party. He emphasized that these individuals will be identified and exposed to the media soon. Ponguleti assured that those responsible for the attack will be held accountable.
