CBN Should Act Swiftly Over Sai Krishna’s Case

The recent incident at the Krishnalanka police station in Vijayawada has now turned into a major political battle in Andhra Pradesh with YSR Congress party trying its best to use the controversy to raise serious concerns over police high-handedness and law enforcement by the ruling government.

The mysterious disappearance and allegations of custodial torture involving a youth named Gade Sai Krishna have put the Chandrababu Naidu government on the defensive, providing the opposition with a chance to gain mileage with the help of caste politics.

From the past few days, allegations have surfaced that Sai Krishna, who is facing numerous cases, was subjected to severe custodial torture, with some sections claiming it led to a lock-up death. Her mother has also alleged that Sai Krishna was tortured and killed.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Gupta to launch a comprehensive, high-level inquiry to unearth the facts. As an initial step, the Krishnalanka Circle Inspector (CI) has already been transferred to the Vacancy Reserve (VR).

YSR Congress Party has quickly seized this opportunity to gain political mileage. By aggressively highlighting the case, YSRCP leaders are attempting to paint a narrative that law and order in the state has completely collapsed under the current administration. As expected, they are also bringing caste card into the issue to make the issue bigger and turn it into their advantage.

For the Chandrababu Naidu government, this is another sensitive issue which should be dealt in a swift and effective manner to gain public trust. Such incidents involving allegations of police brutality and custodial negligence tend to severely damage a government’s public image. Also, YSRCP leaders are spreading the narrative that the state is slipping into lawlessness.

So, Naidu must act with utmost urgency and transparency. While ordering a high-level probe is welcome, he should also ensure that the investigation is conducted impartially and swiftly. The truth should come out at the earliest and stringent action must be taken against police officers for their negligence.