Two victim attempt self-immolation in KTR's rally

Two victims of police torture on Friday attempted immolation at an election rally of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's son and cabinet minister K.T. Rama Rao.

The incident occurred in Rajanna Sircilla district when Rama Rao, popular as KTR, was addressing the rally in Sircialla Assembly constituency, from where he is seeking re-election.

Kola Harish and Penta Banaiah poured kerosene on self and tried to immolate but alert policemen foiled their attempt and shifted them to a police station.

The two villagers were protesting against the police torture and the failure of the minister to do justice to them.

They were among eight people from Nerella village who were arrested in March last year on charges of setting ablaze sand lorries. They were later subjected to third-degree torture in police custody.

The opposition had accused Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government and Rama Rao in particular for abusing their power.

Six of the victims had later joined the ruling party. Harish and Banaiah had alleged that TRS leaders offered them cash and other rewards to get them to join the party. They also claimed that the ruling party was also pressuring them to remain silent.

(With inputs from agencies.)