Cops convicted in case of illegal arrest, torture of Dalit man

A court in East Godavari district today sentenced a police sub-inspector, two constables and owner of a bricks manufacturing unit to three years' imprisonment for illegal confinement and torture of a Dalit man.
Alamur inspector Lanka Ravi Teja and constables M Kondala Rao and V Krishna Reddy were accused of illegally arresting N Lakshmana Rao at the instance of the brick unit owner Challa Prabhakar Rao on June 4, 2002.
He was kept in custody for two days, and forced to sign a confession about the crimes he hadn't committed, Lakshamana Rao had alleged.
Alamur magistrate M subba Rao today convicted all the accused.

The magistrate also imposed a fine of Rs 11,500 on Challa Prabhakar Rao and that of Rs 7,500 each on the three policemen.
Lakshmana Rao's mother had sent a telegram to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, saying her son was illegally arrested and tortured in the custody.
The HC treated it as a writ petition, and issued notice to East Godavari District Superintendent of Police, asking to file a report.