TV Reporter and Swayamsevak manhandled by TTD officials

via SV Badri,Chennai published on August 4, 2006

Shri Om Prakash Agarwal, representing a private TV Channel from Bangalore and Shri Damodar, Sewa Bharati and a resident of Tadepalligudem, were illegally detained by TTD’s (A)Dharma Reddy and the Vigilance Officer, Nagur Reddy for 36 Hrs and badly manhandled.

 

On Saturday, 30/07/2006, Shri Om Prakash Agarwal, from Bangalore along with a guide from Tadepalli Gudem, Shri Damodar reached Tirumala to take video of the pictures of “cross” painted on certain homes and places in Balaji Nagar, Tirumala.

 

The ‘locals’ prevented them from taking the videos, detained them and handed them over to Nagur Reddy, Vigilance Officer of the TTD with the complaint that they were the ones who drew the pictures in the first place.

 

The TTD Vigilance officer, Nagur Reddy and the Special Officer, (A)Dharma Reddy detained the two of them “illegally” for over 36 hours and it is said that the two were kicked about in abdomen with booted legs, threatening them with a loaded revolver in hand, to “admit” that they drew the cross, while the truth is that they came to record on video the “cross” paintings on the Holy Hill. I am told that the treatment meted out to these two Hindus would put the Americans “handling” their detainees to shame and Shri Agarwal I am told is badly bruised. The two officials seized the recorded cassettes which I am told are explosive evidence of evangelism in Tirumala Hills. They have returned the Video equipment to Shri Agarwal.

 

It appears that the two were then handed over to police after 36 hrs of illegal detention by the TTD and now the police have stated that there is no evidence to prove that these two were the ones who “painted the cross” at Balaji Nagar and have ‘released’ them after “interrogation”. I spoke to Shri Om Prakash Agarwal today and verified these facts.

 

The locals in Tirupati and the Sangha Parivar have gone on a Dharna outside the office of the Asst Suptd of Police.

 

In case of embarking on such future adventures, the local press which is sympathetic to the cause of our agitation should be taken into confidence and taken along with us so the TTD or the police will not venture into such adventurism.

 

It should be noted that the current disposition of both the TTD and the AP Government is to lay the blame squarely on BJP and the Sangha Parivar for “concocting” rumours of evangelism in Tirumala. Even the CM has gone on record blaming the BJP for creating mischief for political gains.

 

Shri Agarwal that  is sending legal notices to (A)Dharma Reddy, Nagur Reddy of TTD with copies to the Chief Justice of AP High Court, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India as also moving the National Human Rights Commission on this issue. We have assured him of all support on behalf of our Hindu Samaj.