Nursing student alleges TDP legislator raped her

The murder and rape case against a legislator of Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Saturday took a new turn when another student of a nursing college run by him complained to the state's home minister that he raped her.

The student along with four others and their parents, all hailing from Kerala, met Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to complain against TDP legislator from Kovvur assembly constituency T.V. Rama Rao.

While one student said she was raped by the politician, another alleged that he had twice attempted to rape her. Talking to media people, the home minister identified the girls as students of TVR College of nursing in Nidadavolu town in West Godavari district.

"Three other students who were sharing a room with them in the college hostel came forward as witnesses. I have asked the girls to say whatever they have told me before CID (Criminal Investigation Department)," the minister said.

Since the case was handed over to the CID for investigations last week, the home minister asked the students to appear before CID officials and record their statements.

The students complained to the minister that the legislator locked them in a room and threatened them with dire consequences if they speak out after he was booked for murder and rape June 18. They said an associate of the legislator forcibly put them in a vehicle and sent them to Chennai.

They alleged that the rape and attempts to rape took place in March and April but they were afraid to speak out.

"The girls told me that their parents are daily wage workers and they paid the college fee with great difficulty. They said their lives were spoiled but they dared to come out so that strong action be taken against the legislator and the lives of other girls are saved," said the home minister.

She denied allegations by the TDP that the government was trying to implicate the legislator in a false case.

"The government can't play with the lives of these girls. Rama Rao is not important but these girls are important for the government," she said.

Reacting to Saturday's development, Rama Rao said it was a conspiracy by the government to implicate him.

The legislator and his family members went on an indefinite fast here alleging that the Congress government was trying to implicate him in a false case. TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has also charged the government with foisting a false case against the legislator.

Police had booked Rama Rao for rape and murder of a student of a nursing college run by him on the basis of a complaint by David Kumar, leader of a Dalit outfit. The complainant alleged that the legislator had disposed off the body of the student.

The legislator was arrested but later released as the police did not find any evidence.

The police could only find a palm print on the wall of one of the hostel rooms. Amid high drama, the police whisked away the legislator on the night of June 18 when he had climbed on the water tank atop the college building after parents of the students and local people had gathered in front of the college building and pelted stones.

ms/sh/jg

( 554 Words)

2009-07-04-14:59:11 (IANS)

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