Latest news with #SajjaVenkataNageswaraRao
New Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra HC dismisses contempt petition on slain Maoists' cremation
VIJAYAWADA: The High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by the family members of slain Maoists Nambala Keshava Rao and Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao seeking action against Chhattisgarh police for contempt of court. The petitioners argued that despite the court directives to hand over the bodies, Chhattisgarh police cremated the bodies instead of complying with the order. However, the High Court bench ruled that it lacked jurisdiction in the matter, stating that since both the encounter and cremation occurred in Chhattisgarh, any contempt proceedings should fall under that State's jurisdiction. Earlier, the families of the slain Maoists had petitioned the HC, requesting directions to the police to hand over the bodies. During the hearing, Advocate General Prafull Bharat, representing the Chhattisgarh government, assured the court that postmortem procedure would be completed and the bodies of slain Maoists would be handed over to their families. However, the families claimed that the police disregarded these assurances, and conducted the cremation in Chhattisgarh.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh high court asks Maoists' kin to approach Chhattisgarh police for mortal remains
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Saturday disposed of two petitions filed by the family members of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao and Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao, who were killed by security forces in a recent encounter, with a direction to approach Chhattisgarh police to get their mortal remains. Bharatamma, the mother of Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraj, and Srinivasa Rao, the brother of Nageswara Rao, moved house motion petitions before the high court seeking directions to Chhattisgarh police to hand over the bodies so that they can perform their last rites in a dignified manner. Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel A Satya Prasad said when they approached the IG office in Chhattisgarh, seeking to take the bodies, police turned down their request and asked them to approach AP police. When they approached the SPs of Bapatla and Srikakulam districts, they were threatened and told not to seek custody of the bodies, Satya Prasad alleged. He said the actions of AP and Chhattisgarh police are violative of several Supreme Court judgements, which state that the dead have the right to receive dignified last rites. He said the petitions were filed before AP high court as part of the cause of action arose in the state. He pleaded for directions to gain custody of the bodies so that their last rites can be performed according to the customs and traditions of the families. Responding to the petitions, Praful Bharath, advocate general of Chhattisgarh, said as the incident took place in Chhattisgarh, AP high court does not have territorial jurisdiction to decide the petitions. He said out of 27 persons who died in the encounter, postmortem examinations have been completed for 21 bodies. Postmortem of the remaining bodies would be completed by Saturday evening, and the next step in the procedure is to hand over the bodies to the families. He denied the petitioners' allegations that Chhattisgarh police chased them away and denied to hand over the bodies. Andhra Pradesh advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas also said that the petitioners ought to have filed the petition before Chhattisgarh high court. He also denied the allegations of threatening the petitioners and putting them under house arrest by AP police. Deputy solicitor general, Pasala Punnarao, said CRPF was not involved in the encounter and therefore, Union govt cannot be a party to the litigation. Considering all the arguments, the high court bench of Justices N Harinath and Y Lakshmana Rao said they intend to dispose of the petitions without going into the issue of territorial jurisdiction. As the advocate general of Chhattisgarh submitted that handing over of bodies is the next step in the procedure, the high court gave the petitioners liberty to approach the police to seek custody of the bodies and disposed of the petitions.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Approach Chhattisgarh police authorities for bodies: Andhra high court to kin of slain Maoists
AMRAVATI: Andhra Pradesh high court on Saturday disposed of two separate petitions filed by the kin of slain Maoist leaders Nambala Keshava Rao and Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao, seeking a direction to the Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh govts, among others, to hand over their bodies so that they can perform the last rites. HC said the petitioners are open to approach the concerned police authorities of Chhattisgarh to seek custody of the bodies. On a specific enquiry of the court about the status of the postmortem, advocate general of Chhattisgarh submitted that autopsy of all the bodies would be completed by Saturday. The AG also informed HC that after completion of the postmortem, they would be handed over to the relatives.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Basavaraj's family moves HC, seeks his mortal remains
1 2 3 Vijayawada: The family members of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraj, who was killed by security forces recently, moved the high court with a house motion petition seeking directions to get his mortal remains for last rites. The family members of Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao, who was also killed in the same encounter in Chhattisgarh, filed a similar petition. The high court is set to hear both petitions on Saturday. The mother of Keshava Rao, Bharatamma, and elder brother Dhilleswara Rao filed the petition, contending that Chhattisgarh police refused to hand over the body of Keshava Rao to his family members. They stated that police intimidated them and chased away one of the members who went to Jagadalpur to receive the mortal remains of his brother. They also alleged that Andhra Pradesh police were not cooperating and threatening them to withdraw the plans to perform the last rites of their deceased family member. The brothers of Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao from Chirala also raised similar contentions. They also expressed doubts about the genuineness of the encounter, stating that the denial by the police to hand over the bodies is leading to suspicion that it was a fake encounter. They further contended that police are flouting norms by not allowing the family members to remain present during the inquiry by a civil surgeon, which has to be done within 24 hours of the death. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2 more from Andhra Pradesh among Naxals killed in encounter
Hyderabad: Two senior Maoist leaders from Andhra Pradesh are believed to have been killed in the recent encounter in Chhattisgarh, top sources confirmed on Tuesday. Among them is Sajja Venkata Nageswara Rao , better known by his aliases Rajanna, Yesanna, or Jang Naveen, a key figure who headed the Maoist journal 'Jung'. He was serving as a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). The second leader reported dead is Madhu, also an SZCM-level cadre in the same region. However, officials from Andhra Pradesh Police said they were awaiting formal confirmation from their Chhattisgarh counterparts regarding the identities. Naveen (60) hailed from Rama village of Jandrapet in Chirala mandal of Prakasam district. He was from middle-class background and joined the Maoist movement early, influenced by People's War Group activities in his native region. He was fluent in Telugu and was known to carry an AK-47. The AP govt had announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh on him.
