Police, family tussle leaves Maoist's body without last rites

KHAMMAM: Members of former Maoist leader Kodem Sammaiah’s family left his body without performing last rites at a land in Yellandu of Bhadradri Kothagudem district even though it was raining on Friday.

This happened after police obstructed the family from performing the last rites on the land saying it is under dispute.

The family members attempted to perform the last rites of Sammaiah on the land for which the late Maoist had been fighting for a long time.

Kodem Sammaiah had surrendered and joined the mainstream of society. In return, the state government sanctioned a piece of land as part of his rehabilitation package.

It is said the allocation of the land had later been withdrawn in the name of using it for the government’s purposes. The government told Sammaiah that he will be given another piece of land.

But Sammaiah came to know that the new land had already been encroached upon by a local ruling party leader.

Sammaiah had been fighting for the piece of land originally allotted by the state government. He even attempted suicide in protest against officials’ apathy.
The land did not go to the surrendered Maoist even after his death.