Brahmin Welfare Corporation Chairman Buchi Ram Prasad alleged attempts to shield the real accused in the Srikakulam road accident and demanded a fair, impartial investigation.
Mangalagiri: Andhra Pradesh Brahmin Welfare Corporation Chairman Buchi Ram Prasad alleged that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was attempting to shield those responsible for a fatal road accident in Srikakulam by falsely implicating an innocent person. He demanded a fair and transparent investigation and strict action against anyone found involved in suppressing evidence or influencing the probe.
Addressing a press conference at the TDP Central Office in Mangalagiri, Buchi Ram Prasad referred to the recent accident involving the son of former minister Seediri Appalaraju. He said that while road accidents can happen to anyone, abandoning an injured victim without ensuring immediate medical treatment was both irresponsible and inhuman.
He alleged that instead of promptly shifting the victim to a hospital, efforts were made to protect the actual accused by falsely portraying Siddharth, a young man from the Brahmin community, as the rider of the motorcycle involved in the accident.
The Corporation Chairman said the deceased belonged to a poor Yadava family and was the father of two young children. He maintained that if the actual person responsible had been booked under the law, there would have been no objection. However, he alleged that attempts were made to suppress the truth and shift responsibility onto an innocent youth.
Questioning the alleged handling of the case, Buchi Ram Prasad asked whether the lives of weaker sections were being sacrificed for political influence and money. According to him, both the deceased's family and the young man allegedly implicated in the case had become victims of political protection.
He further claimed that CCTV footage available with investigators reportedly showed the movement of the motorcycle ridden by Seediri Appalaraju's son before the accident, including footage from a nearby fuel station and along the accident route. Despite the availability of such evidence, he alleged that Siddharth was later brought to the police station and falsely implicated in an attempt to divert the investigation.
Highlighting the importance of emergency medical care, Buchi Ram Prasad said road safety experts consider the first 20 minutes after a serious accident as the "golden period," during which timely treatment can often save lives. He argued that the victim could have survived had immediate medical assistance been provided.
He also noted that the present coalition government had strengthened the State's emergency response mechanism by improving 108 ambulance services to ensure quicker medical assistance to accident victims. In that context, he described the alleged delay in providing treatment as deeply disturbing.
Accusing the YSRCP of protecting influential individuals at the expense of innocent people, Buchi Ram Prasad said the incident had not only claimed the life of a Backward Class youth but had also allegedly attempted to ruin the future of an innocent Brahmin youth. He urged parents and members of the Brahmin community to remain vigilant against any attempts to misuse young people for political purposes.
Expressing confidence in the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, Buchi Ram Prasad said the present administration believes in the rule of law and that legal action should be based solely on evidence, irrespective of an individual's political status. He demanded criminal cases against all those responsible for the accident as well as anyone allegedly involved in suppressing evidence or misleading investigators. He also said that if the investigation established any role in influencing the case, appropriate legal action should be taken against former minister Seediri Appalaraju.
