TD Activist Succumbs To Burn Injuries; Dying Declaration Sparks Political Storm
Nellore: Telugu Desam (TD) activist Chimmili Srinivasulu, who suffered serious burn injuries earlier this month, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai on Saturday evening, police said.
Srinivasulu, who belongs to Kondapuram Mandal, gave a detailed death declaration, making serious allegations against TD leaders in the region, triggering a huge controversy in the region.
In his statement, the TD employee claimed that he legally purchased land worth 6 cents in 2019 after local settlement held in the presence of Udayagiri MLA Kakarla Suresh and built a house and two shops after obtaining necessary permissions. Srinivasulu alleged that TDP mandal president B. Chennaiah collected ₹40,000 from him during the construction, while village sarpanch Baddipudi Macherla later demanded additional money.
According to Srinivasulu, after he refused to pay, he started receiving threats. He said that when he was in Hyderabad on April 1, an illegal statue of Ambedkar was installed outside his stores.
After returning from Hyderabad, the TD employee said he approached senior police officials. During the investigation, the Sarpanch allegedly confessed that he had installed the statue without permission. Srinivasulu also stated that he brought the issue to the notice of the MLA but did not receive any response.
Narrating the April 13 incident, Srinivasulu claimed that he brought the petrol can only to scare the sarpanch and his friends who were near the statue. Instead, the Sarpanch and his henchmen poured petrol on him and set him on fire.
Kavali DSP VV Ramana Kumar said that based on the victim’s statement, an attempt to murder case has been registered against TD leader B. Chennaiah, his wife Dorasanamma, sarpanch Baddipudi Macherla and his wife Lakshmi Kantham. An investigation is ongoing.
A police team went to Chennai to conduct investigation and autopsy before sending the body to Kondapuram.
Responding to the allegations, MLA Kakarla Suresh said that around eight months ago, he had advised the authorities to give permission to Srinivasulu for the construction of his house and shops, provided there were no irregularities. The MLA also said that he asked Srinivasulu and Chennaiah to resolve their dispute amicably when the Ambedkar statue issue arose.
