MLC Shaik Sabji killed in gruesome road mishap

Kakinada: The Progressive Democratic Front MLC for East and West Godavari Teachers’ constituency Shaik Sabji (56) has died in a ghastly road accident near Cherukuwada village in Undi mandal of West Godavari district Friday afternoon. He is survived by his wife Subhena Begum, a daughter and a son. He was elected as MLC in March 2021.

West Godavari superintendent of police U. Ravi Prakash said that the car in which he was travelling from Akividu and proceeding towards Bhimavaram collided with another car killing him on the spot.

His personal assistant, the car driver and a gunman, who sustained injuries in the mishap, were admitted in the government hospital at Bhimavaram, he said.

Meanwhile, Sabji had participated in the protest of Anganwadi workers at Akividu village. He said that Anganwadis should not open their centres, until the government sorts out their problems. He told them that they need not worry as the tenure of the present government will end in four and half months.

He demanded that the government immediately sort out the problems of Anganwadis and ASHA workers. Soon thereafter he left for Bhimavaram, where he had to attend a public meeting, arranged by SFI, in Palakollu.

In the collision, the front side of the car where Sabji was seated was crushed badly. The locals recognised him and immediately informed the police. However, by the time they pulled him out of the car, he was dead.

Sabji’s death sent shockwaves across the state. Many teachers, Union leaders and political leaders expressed their shock.

AP Legislative Council chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju, who visited Bhimavaram, recalled that Sabji was a man of erudition and his command over matters concerning education and teachers were of a very high order. He said that they knew each other quite well.

MLC I. Venkateswara Rao said that Sabji had championed the cause of teachers by way of movements and fought with the government to achieve the demands of the teaching community. UTF East Godavari district leaders Prabhakara Varma and T. Chakravarthi, CPM leaders P. Veerababu, D. Seshu Babji and Ch. Rajakumar and others expressed their condolences.

UTF Kakinada district president K.V.V. Nageswara Rao said that Sabji’s death was a great loss to teachers’ movements which he initiated like demanding the abolition of the contributor pension scheme (CPS) and protection of government schools.

UTF state secretary T. Annaramu, Sairam, G. Prabhakara Varma, V.V. Ramana, K. Sathi Raju, N. Govinda Rajulu and others expressed their condolences.

Sabji had started his teaching career from Dwaraka Tirumala in the present Eluru district.