Raju recovering, attack motive under investigation

 Hyderabad: Police said they were yet to ascertain the motive behind the attack on BRS Medak MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy by Gaddam Raju, the YouTuber, on Monday.

Residents of his native Pedda Chepyal village had said that Raju was upset after being denied Dalit Bandhu benefit, but police claimed that they have not found any record indicating that he had applied for the scheme.

“There is no clarity on the motive of the attack,” Siddipet police commissioner N. Swetha told Deccan Chronicle.

The Siddipet commissionerate police who are handling the case are probing multiple angles to establish the cause of the attack. They are also verifying call records of Raju during the past month, details of places he visited, the people he met in these days.

Police are collecting the details of the persons whom Raju had met on Monday till he attacked the MP at Surampalli village of Doultabad police limits while he was campaigning.

Police have also questioned his family members, but no concrete information related to the attack was found, said police commissioner Swetha.

Raju, meanwhile, is recovering in Gandhi Hospital from injuries he sustained in an attack by BRS workers after the stabbing incident.

“He is still undergoing treatment and has not been arrested,” Swetha said, adding, “All details related to the case will be revealed after completing the investigation.”

A doctor at Gandhi Hospital told Deccan Chronicle that Raju was being treated in the emergency ward and responding to the treatment. “He is speaking now. Based on the recovery, he will be discharged in a day or two,” he said. Siddipet police have deployed personnel at Gandhi hospital to arrest Raju upon his discharge.

His family members also remained tightlipped about the incident. It was learnt that the police have asked them to not speak till the investigation in the case is completed.

Swetha also appealed to the people to not believe any rumours and the fake news that are being widely circulated in the aftermath of the incident and warned of strict legal action against those indulging in such activities. She also clarified that there is no record of Raju involved in any offences in the past.

Separately, police have registered a case against one Naveen from Dubbak for posting derogatory comments on the incident and another against a group of BRS workers who abused him over the post.