After 4-hour hostage drama, suspended Andhra cop frees SP

A suspended police head constable on Wednesday night kept a Superintendent of Police hostage for four hours protesting alleged harassment by the bosses before freeing him after a high drama.

Head constable Giriprasad Sarma, after taking SP E Lakshmi Narayana hostage, threatened to set the room, in which the officer was confined, on fire if his demands were not met or if police tried to use force to release the SP.

Sarma had locked himself and the SP inside the lodge room near Lakdi-Ka-Pool at Saifabad area, close to the police headquarters.

After taking the SP hostage, Sarma, who was suspended in May, told a Telugu news channel that Narayana and other senior police officials of PTO harassed him, and were responsible for getting him suspended. He demanded that his suspension order be revoked and disciplinary action taken against Narayana.

Senior officers spoke to Sarma and appealed him to free the SP. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy too spoke to him at one point and assured that his problems will be looked into and resolved, police said.

Asked why he was holding the SP captive, Sarma told the news channel, "It is only related to PTO issues. He is a high-ranking police officer in the organisation and complaints (against other officers) were made to him."

Naryana, who was allowed by Sarma to speak to the channel, however, said he had never harassed Sarma and pleaded for release in view of his health condition.

"I have been tied here. My health is not good. I never harassed him. In fact, I came here (to the room) to solve his problem after Sarma asked me to do so. But after one hour, I was told that I have been held captive."

What finally seemed to have persuaded Sarma to free the officer was the conversation he had with DGP V Dinesh Reddy.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Sajjan Kumar acquittal: Sikh protesters march towards PM's residence

Uma Bharti confident of BJP's victory in MP Assembly elections

Markandeya Katju appeals for release of Sanaullah

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal