Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh):In yet another case of violence against Dalits in Andhra Pradesh, a youngster was allegedly tonsured and assaulted by the family members of a film producer after he was accused of stealing a mobile phone.
Parri Srikanth, who used to live in Srikakulam district's Palasa with his grandmother and sister, had moved to Visakhapatnam for employment.
He reportedly worked for film producer N Nutan Naidu of Big Boss-2 fame. After working for the producer for four months, Srikanth said he left the job on August 1.
However, he was called at the producer's home on Friday after a cell phone was reportedly stolen from the house.
The victim alleged that he was accused of stealing a mobile phone, after which the accused persons assaulted him and called a barber who shaved off his head.
The victim was reportedly attacked with a rod and sustained injuries. He was also reportedly threatened that he would face serious consequences if he reported the incident.
Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against the accused persons under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Read:Prez orders speedy inquiry into Andhra Dalit victim's case
"A complaint was received from a Dalit person. Pendurthi Police have registered a case under the SC/ST act. Due to medical leave of Pendurthi Inspector, Central Crime Station Assistant Commissioner of Police Sravan Kumar reached the spot and is investigating the case," Deputy Commissioner of Police Suresh Babu told a news agency.
Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha also released the CCTV footage of the incident, where the accused can be purportedly seen attacking the victim.
Pertinently, the case comes just a month after a dalit youth was allegedly thrashed and tonsured by the Sitanagaram police in the state.
Earlier in July, a scheduled caste youth, Vara Prasad, had reportedly confronted a YSRCP leader and tried to stop his sand lorries at Muni Koodali area. He was then reportedly called to the police station where he was allegedly assaulted.
(With inputs from ANI)
