Talasani kin assaulted me: Victim

Minister refutes charge; says attackers are not related to him

A cousin of minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and his aides allegedly attacked a GHMC employee at his residence at Bhoiguda on Thursday night.

The family of N. Saikumar alleged that T. Srinu Yadav and around 10 others barged into his house and assaulted him brutally. When they tried to stab him, his sister intervened and received injuries on her hand, said his family.

The attackers damaged the furniture at his house and abused his parents.

Mr Saikumar was admitted to Care Hospital at Musheerabad, where he was placed on ventilator till Friday morning. Doctors said that his condition is critical.

Cases for attempt to murder and under the SC/ST Atrocities Act have been registered against Srinu Yadav and six others, identified as Siddu, Sanket, Suman, Vikram, Santosh and Manoj.

The minister said that he was being blamed for the offences committed by some strangers who were not related to him.

“Anyone, including my relatives and followers, are equal before the law and no one will encourage such incidents. Police can initiate any action on the responsible persons and I have never interfered in such issues,” the minister said in an official release.

Police said the attack was the outcome of a petty quarrel between Srinu Yadav’s sons and Saikumar’s sons.

“We are looking into all the aspects behind the incident,” said Gandhi-nagar inspector A. Sanjeeva Rao.

Mr Saikumar works in the GHMC health department in Amberpet circle. His family members said that on Thursday night at around 11 pm,

Srinu Yadav called him on his mobile and started arguing over a petty issue. Mr Saikumar replied this was not the right time to talk and said that they could discuss the matter during the day.

At around 11.30 pm, Yadav and his men arrived at Saikumar’s house and started quarrelling with him. They attacked him with sticks and beat him severely.

“They were all drunk and using foul language against my uncle and the family. They even slapped my grandfather. When they tried to stab my uncle, my aunt came in the middle. Her hand was injured,” said Mr Saikumar’s niece P. Srilatha.

They were drunk and using abusive language. They slapped my grandfather. When they tried to stab my uncle, my aunt came in the middle. Her hand was injured

— P. SRILATHA, Saikumar’s niece