MLA’S FAMILY STOPPED DESPITE PASS, PLEAS

Mulugu Congress MLA Seetakka, who is known to trek to remote hamlets to help tribals, was placed in a helpless situation when police stopped a vehicle carrying her relatives who were going to donate blood for her mother in a Hyderabad hospital.

Sources said when her mother contracted Covid-19, Seetakka made arrangements for her home isolation and went to reach out to the people. However, Seetakka's mother developed complications and had to be rushed to a hospital in Hyderabad.

When she needed plasma, some of Seethakka’s family members left for Hyderabad from Mulugu to donate blood. A vehicle pass was procured from the Mulugu collectorate for the purpose.

When the family members reached Hyderabad, Malkajgiri DCP Rakshita K. Murthy allegedly stopped their vehicle for half an hour, ignored the pass and imposed a penalty for violating the lockdown.

The DCP reportedly refused to speak to Seethakka over the phone. When the DCP finally left half an hour later, an officer in her team allowed the vehicle to pass.

“What would be the situation of a common man if the family of an MLA with a vehicle pass faced such a situation,” Seetakka asked when she came to know of the situation.

The MLA said, “When I wanted to talk to her and show the situation of my mother over a video call, the police officer did not wish to speak to me. She did not even make an attempt to understand the situation. Police officials must consider the facts and act on humanitarian grounds. Such officers are a threat to the lives of people. But her subordinate understood the situation and allowed our family to proceed.”

● WHEN THE family members reached Hyderabad, Malkajgiri DCP Rakshita K. Murthy allegedly stopped their vehicle for half an hour, ignored the pass and imposed a penalty for violating the lockdown.