Truck owners’ assn gherao Rayagada police station: Assn President blames N Bhaskar Rao, Ex-BJD MP behind the episode
Rayagada (Badal Tah): While the district was busy in celebrating Utkal Divas aka Odisha Divas, hundreds of drivers led by Yalla Venkateswara Rao popularly known as Konda Babu gheraoed Rayagada town police station around wee hour of the morning. The reason: police without any notice arrested a driver named Gourishankar. According Konda Babu, Gourishankar is neither a burglar nor a terrorist nor a hard core criminal. “Rayagada police is still acting at the behest of N Bhaskar Rao, who is at present the District BJD President. I have all the proof that Bhaskar Rao was extorting money in the name of Naxalites. Police has not taken any action against him till date in spite of complaint against him; rather it has provided him official security. Why should not I be provided with police security when my life is in danger ? We are anguished that one of our drivers is punished for no fault of him whereas Bhaskar is scot free because of impartial attitude of police. I will peacefully fight tooth & nail till Bhaskar gets arrested. We will not leave the place till the driver is released and justice meted out to us”, openly rued Konda Babu, President, Truck Owners Association & a senior BJP leader.
Hundreds of trucks jammed the Ranchi-Vijaiwada road leading to Andhra Pradesh causing sheer difficulties to the commuters, even ambulances.
According to K K B K Kahanr, IIC of Rayagada town police station, there is a non-bailable warrant against the said driver since 2005 and he was avoiding several summons sent by police.
It may be noted that earlier Konda Babu was the henchman of Bhaskar Rao; but 2-3 years back they fell apart for obvious reasons. Bhaskar & Konda factions both led Telugu new year festival Ugadi festival separately in different venues which was a show of strength for them. The situation has become very complex and the law & order is not at its tranquility. Higher authority of police has intervened and till writing of this report police has reached a reconciliation stage.
