Khammam, April 17: Members of the families of those killed and injured in the sensational massacre here in 2005 blame the police for the escape of the prime accused in the case and most-wanted criminal, T Ramarao, from the Srikakulam district prison recently.
Ramarao is guilty of killing seven persons and injuring eight in the village on December 21, 2005.
The kin of the victims said that it had been apprehended that Ramarao might escape from the jail and the same was conveyed to the police. Yet, no action was taken by the police. There were as many as 50 cases, including rape cases, pending against Ramarao at various police stations before the Rudrakshapalli killings by him. Had the police taken a stern action, the Rudrakshapalli massacre would not have taken place, they said.
Meanwhile, fear has gripped Rudrakshapalli with the villagers literally spending sleepless nights despite a police picket being posted in the village.
This is for the thrid time that Ramarao escaped from the prison.
The police did not learn any lesson from the previous incidents. That became clear from the fact that they deployed two policemen without arms in the village.
A member of the family of one of the victims said that he had lost his father and brother in the killings. Though his family had no rivalry with Ramarao they were targetted due to political differences, he said and alleged that Ramarao used the cell phone to know the whereabouts of his targets. Whether it was a coincidence or a deliberate plan, all the police officials were away at Khammam for a meeting when Ramarao entered the village to commit the murders.
Most of those killed were innocents.
Ramarao started his massacre from one end of the village and killed whoever came his way. One of the victims was a disabled person who had lost his both legs because of polio.
Sattupalli DSP V Ratna said that they posted a police picket in the village and deployed four unarmed constables.
They had no permission to provide
–Agencies