Revenue staff flay CM during funeral

Hyderabad: The final rites of Ch. Vijaya Reddy, the woman tahsildar who was murdered in her office in Abdullapurmet, were performed with state honours, watched mournfully by scores of her colleagues from the revenue department, family and friends at Nagole on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old woman was set ablaze in her office in Abdullapurmet by Kura Suresh on Monday. She died on the spot. She was posted as the first tahsildar after the Abdullapur-met mandal was formed in 2016. Huge numbers of revenue department employees visited her house and bid her a tearful adieu. Employees, who participated in the funeral procession from her house to the crematorium at Nagole, raised slogans hailing her, and then, as the sad mood turned into anger, slogans were raised against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

The employees condemned the policies introduced by the CM, alleging that he was responsible for instigating public’s anger against revenue employees.

The revenue department employees who participated in the funeral procession staged a road block on the Nagole main road, demanding an assurance from the state government to provide a safe working environment. However, the police intervened and brought the situation under control and ended the rasta roko.

Before the funeral procession started, a group of employees gathered at a neighbouring building to discuss the issues to be raised before the government and seeking an immediate resolution.

Subhash Reddy, Vijaya’s husband, opined that revenue employees have been suffering due to policies implemented by the TRS government.

Speaking to media, Mr Reddy said, “My wife was a workaholic and committed. I demand an in-depth investigation into the incident by central agencies to establish facts. We were planning to seek a transfer away from here. Several revenue employees are suffering due to the KCR government’s policies. I hope the government realizes it and take necessary corrective measures.”

“Politicians of the ruling party are taking bribes and building pressure on employees to get work done. If employees act against interests of the politicos, they are made to suffer. Even a day after this barbaric incident, neither Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who holds charge of revenue department, nor any of his family members have expressed condolences to the family of the deceased or gave any assurances,” said A. Revanth Reddy, Congress MP, Malkajgiri.

He alleged that the police did not record statements of family members of the deceased to find if they have suspicion on any person. “I request employees of other departments to extend support to revenue employees, who gave a call to boycott duties for next three days,” he said.