Vijayawada: Viral Selfie Suicide Video Accuses Police Inspector of Custodial Torture
A viral selfie suicide video has led to the suspension of a Vijayawada police inspector accused of custodial torture. The officer is also linked to the suspicious disappearance of a 23-year-old man, triggering a high-level government investigation into the incidents.
Highlights
- •A viral selfie video shows Perupogu Kranthi Kumar blaming Inspector Nagaraju for his suicide.
- •Inspector Nagaraju is also implicated in the disappearance and alleged death of 23-year-old Gade Sai Krishna.
- •The AP government has suspended the inspector following widespread public protests and civil society pressure.
- •Police have registered an FIR against the accused under BNS sections for murder and wrongful confinement.
A disturbing selfie suicide video has emerged from Vijayawada, intensifying the public outcry surrounding allegations of custodial torture against a local police officer. The video features a man identified as Perupogu Kranthi Kumar, who levels serious accusations against Inspector Nagaraju of the Krishna Lanka Police Station. In the footage, which has since gone viral, the deceased claims that the officer subjected him to persistent physical abuse and harassment over a three-month period, ultimately driving him to take his own life.
Custodial Torture Allegations Spark Public Outrage
The circulation of this video has heightened scrutiny regarding the professional conduct of Inspector Nagaraju, particularly as it coincides with another high-profile case involving a missing 23-year-old man, Gade Sai Krishna. The mother of the missing youth, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, has alleged that her son was tortured and allegedly killed while in the custody of the same inspector. Following these grave allegations and subsequent pressure from family members and civil society organizations, the state government took decisive action.
The Andhra Pradesh police have formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the inspector. Legal proceedings have been initiated under several sections, including BNS Section 103 (1), which pertains to charges of murder, and Section 127 (4) and 127 (6), which relate to wrongful confinement. Additionally, BNSS Section 238, covering the effect of errors in criminal charges, has been invoked as part of the ongoing investigation.
The severity of the situation has prompted intervention at the highest levels of the state administration. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed a senior IPS officer to conduct a thorough probe into these incidents. In response to the growing public unrest and the seriousness of the claims, the state government has officially suspended Inspector Nagaraju. Authorities are now meticulously examining the connections between the selfie suicide video case and the disappearance of Gade Sai Krishna to ensure accountability and transparency in the judicial process.
As the investigation unfolds, the administration remains under pressure to address concerns regarding human rights violations and the standard of police conduct in the region. The legal outcomes of these cases are being closely monitored by human rights advocates and the general public, as the search for justice for Perupogu Kranthi Kumar and Gade Sai Krishna continues.
