CPI (ML) New Democracy State spokesperson P.Prasad and the party’s Srikakulam District Secretary Tandra Prakash on Monday expressed concern over the not handing over of the body of the slain CPI (Maoist) General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju to his family members although he was killed in an encounter five days ago in Abujhmadh area of Chhattisgarh. They alleged that the AP government ignored AP High Court’s order which has given an order in the favour of family members of Mr.Keshava Rao.

According to them, Mr.Keshava Rao’s brother N. Ramprasad went to Narayanpur of Chhattisgarh on May 22 to bring back the body to his native place Jiyyannapet of Kotabommali mandal of Srikakulam district. Police officials of Andhra Pradesh declined the permission and prevented Chhattisgarh police personnel from handing over Keshava Rao’s body to the family members. Mr.Keshava Rao’s another brother N. Dilleswara Rao has been moving around the police station for the last three days to get the nod from the police for the funeral in the native place.

Mr.Prasad who is also the State President of Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) alleged that AP government was creating hurdles for the funeral in the native place with the unnecessary fear of Maoist activities in the State in future. Mr.Prakash said that respectable funeral was the right of the family members. He charged that the State government was putting pressure on the Chhattisgarh administration to ensure funeral locally since bringing the Basavaraju’s body to native place might trigger agitations in Srikakulam district. Higher officials of Srikakulam police department were tight lipped over the issue.

–EOM