VRO Dies By Suicide In Kurnool, Revenue Staff Protest

Sheikh Mohammed Hussain had been serving at the Gandhinagar Secretariat under the Kurnool Municipal Corporation. Family members found him dead in his residence during the early hours of Saturday.

According to police and family members, Hussain has left a purported suicide note in which he blamed deputy tahsildar W. Dhanunjaya and tahsildar D. Ravikumar for continuously harassing him and giving him excessive work.

The incident has triggered protests by revenue department employees. Colleagues and staff members gathered at Hussain’s residence and later shifted the body to the Kurnool collectorate, where they staged a demonstration for nearly two hours, demanding suspension of the officials named in the note and action against those responsible.

Hussain had been promoted from Village Revenue Assistant (VRA) to VRO Grade-II in December 2020. Family members and colleagues said he had recently undergone spinal surgery and had sought exemption from strenuous duties. Despite his medical condition, he had allegedly been assigned election-related work and additional responsibilities.

His colleagues pointed out that Hussain had been handling duties across multiple secretariats, including in-charge assignments and census-related work, which caused him severe mental stress.

Later, family members met district collector Dr. A. Siri and sought justice. The collector expressed shock over the incident and said appropriate action would be taken after inquiry. She observed that the matter could have been brought to her notice earlier.

Based on a complaint lodged by the family, Kurnool Taluk police have registered a case. Circle inspector S. Tejomurthy said an investigation is underway.

Former MP Reddappa among 34 booked over YSRC protest in Punganur

Punganur police have registered a case against former Chittoor MP N. Reddappa and 33 others in connection with a protest organised by the YSRC at the Punganur bus stand on June 4.

According to police, the demonstration was held as part of the party’s “Two Years of Betrayal” campaign against the coalition government. Former MP Reddappa, along with party leaders, activists and supporters, participated in the protest.

Police alleged that the programme was conducted without obtaining prior permission from the authorities.

A case has been registered at Punganur Police Station, and further investigation is underway.

Gold ornaments reportedly missing at Bank of Baroda branch; customers stage protest

Customers staged a protest at the Bank of Baroda branch in Jangareddygudem, Eluru district, on Saturday after alleging that gold ornaments pledged with the bank were missing.

According to the customers, they had mortgaged their gold jewellery with the bank and later approached the branch to clear their loans and reclaim the pledged ornaments. However, they were reportedly informed by bank officials that the ornaments were not available.

The customers said they had pledged the jewellery as a financial safeguard for emergencies and expressed concern over the reported unavailability of their valuables.

Bank officials stated that an internal inquiry was underway into the pledged gold ornaments.

Jangareddygudem police told Deccan Chronicle that the bank was currently conducting an audit of the pledged gold at the branch. They said a formal complaint would be lodged with the police after the audit process was completed.

Rape Case: Dismissed CI surrenders, remanded

Former circle inspector of police Chinna Mallaiah, accused in a rape case, surrendered before police at Vinukonda police station in Palnadu district on Saturday.
Police arrested him immediately after his surrender and produced him before a court in Chilakaluripeta, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. He was subsequently shifted to Guntur jail.
Mallaiah had been absconding after a rape case was registered against him. The allegations had led to his suspension and subsequent dismissal from service.