Mahila Congress leaders detained at Pragathi Bhavan

Hyderabad: Police detained Mahila Congress leaders who tried to lay siege to Pragathi Bhavan at the Goshamahal police station on Tuesday. Led by state Mahila Congress president Sunitha Rao, the group was demanding a proper investigation into the suicide of Dr. D. Preethi by a sitting judge and a fast-track court.

The women leaders had been holding a demonstration at Gandhi Bhavan since Monday before about a dozen of them decided to protest at the CM’s camp office. They tried the avoid being spotted by the police but to no avail.

Sunitha Rao alleged that there was an increase in cases related to crime against women. " Cases like rape of minors, sexual assault and ragging, besides cases of trafficking were on rise. Where is CM KCR and his Bhajana mandali ministers and police officers. Are they sleeping in Bangaru Telangana," Sunitha Rao asked.

Former MP V. Hanumantha Rao demanding tough punishment for the culprits in the Dr Preethi case urged the government to deploy police in civilian clothes on university campuses to curtail ragging. He asked why there was a delay in carrying out the death sentence of Marri Srinivas Reddy, who had raped and murdered three minor girls in Hajipur village in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. "The victim's families are awaiting justice,” he said. “Only tough punishment like death penalty will act as a deterrent.”