Purchase of fake liquor from 'illegal shop' caused Kurnool bus fire deaths: YSRCP
Amaravati (PTI): The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP on Sunday alleged that the Kurnool bus fire, which killed 20 people, was a "government-made massacre" caused by "spurious liquor sold at a illegal alcohol shop" in Kurnool district.
In the wee hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met with an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district.
There were 44 passengers on the bus and several managed to escape.
The two-wheeler caught underneath the bus was dragged leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent fire.
The opposition party claimed that the biker Siva Shankar and Erri Swamy involved in the accident had consumed fake liquor at Lakshmipuram before the collision, leading to the chain of events that caused the bus fire.
"This Kurnool bus fire that claimed 20 lives is nothing but a government-made massacre driven by the sale of fake liquor in the district," said the YSRCP in a press release. It demanded that the NDA coalition government must pay Rs 1 crore compensation to each bereaved family and take criminal action against Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra.
The YSRCP maintained that the police probe had already traced the source of the biker's intoxication to the illegal belt shop and asserted that the deaths were a 'consequence of government negligence'.
Citing earlier alcohol seizures, the opposition party alleged that fake liquor units have been busted in Mulakalacheruvu, Ibrahimpatnam, Repalle, Anakapalli, Nellore and Eluru regions and alleged that no sealing or arrests followed.
The party further alleged that one in every four liquor bottles sold in the state is fake and claimed that the racket was worth more than Rs 5,000 crore.
The opposition party further claimed that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was responsible for the mishap.
YSRCP alleged that the government had turned Andhra Pradesh into an "ATM -- Any Time Liquor" state, where belt shops (illegal alcohol shops) operate unchecked even along national highways, contributing to accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. Meanwhile, there was no immediate reaction from the ruling TDP.
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Businessman lured by FB friend, attacked for extortion in K'taka; 4 held
Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
