By IANS,
Hyderabad : Taking a serious view of the dramatic escape of fasting Congress MP L. Rajagopal from a hospital in Vijayawada, the Andhra Pradesh government Monday suspended Vijayawada police commissioner and five other officers.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah announced the suspensions of Police Commissioner Rajendernath Reddy, one assistant commissioner of police, two inspectors, one sub-inspector and one assistant sub-inspector.
Since the MP’s escape and his dramatic arrival at a hospital in Hyderabad added to the problems of the government facing protests over Telanana issue, it acted tough against the officers for “dereliction of duty”.
After a high-level meeting with Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, Director General of Police Girish Kumar and other top officials, Rosaiah also announced an inquiry into the incident.
Rajagopal, who was on fast protesting the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh, Sunday night moved out from a government-run hospital in Vijayawada, giving slip to 300 policemen deployed.
Vijayawada city in the coastal district of Krishna is about 300 km from here. After 15-hour suspense, he surfaced at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad.
“The government has taken serious note of the incident. A case will be booked against Mr Rajagopal for the escape and necessary action will be taken against all those involved after the probe,” Rosaiah said.
The chief minister said the connivance of some policemen was also suspected in the MP’s escape.
“The government will not tolerate or sit quiet if anybody takes law into his hand,” warned Rosaiah.
In another decision, the government suspended seven policemen of Pulivendula town of Kadapa district for “dereliction of duty” as they failed to protect government property.
Protestors set afire three government offices, including an office of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited at Pulivendula Dec 19.