Rajahmundry: The state government appointed one-man commission headed by retired High Court judge justice C.Y. Somayajulu on stampede deaths of devotees during the inauguration of Godavari Maha Pushkaralu, has started its inquiry with a single witness as none came forward to give witness to the tragic event.
The commission had issued the notice to AP Bar Council member Muppala Subba Rao to be present before it on Jan. 18 in the city and accordingly, he presented himself before the commission. In addition to the evidence he had already submitted to the commission earlier, he submitted so-me more evidences he got on the event to the chairman of the commission.
Collector H. Arun Kum-ar, Urban SP Harikrishna were present. The chairman intended to carry out the open inquiry as per the norms of civil procedure code. Based on the affidavit filed by the AP Bar Council member Subba Rao, the chairman asked the senior advocate Ch. Prabhakar Rao who would represent the state government, to submit the response from the government for which the senior advocate sought some time.
The Commission has decided to identify the 36 injured persons in the mishap and sought their list of names and addresses in order to send notices to them to be present before it. Strangely, neither political parties nor public fora have come forward to submit witness on the tragic mishap before the Commission.
