YS Jagan Slams NDA Government Over Deteriorating Law and Order

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the NDA government of failing to maintain law and order in the state, citing the brutal attack on a Class 10 student at a school in Raptadu, Anantapur district, as an example of the worsening security situation. Expressing serious concern over the incident, he questioned how children could feel safe in schools when an outsider could enter a classroom carrying an electric saw and attack a student.

Jagan visited Gopika, the student undergoing treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, on Monday and enquired about her health condition with the doctors. The girl was seriously injured in the attack at Raptadu Zilla Parishad High School. According to the medical team, she successfully underwent a complicated surgery lasting nearly 11 hours and was responding to treatment. However, doctors said her condition would require close monitoring for another 48 hours.

Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Jagan demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation for the victim's family and called for the continuation of advanced medical treatment at government expense. He urged the government to extend comprehensive support to the family during this difficult period. He also announced that the YSRCP would provide the compensation within a month of returning to power if the present government failed to fulfil the demand.

Jagan blamed the government for the deteriorating law and order situation, alleging that unauthorised liquor outlets, commonly known as belt shops, were spreading across villages. He claimed that the easy availability of alcohol and ganja was pushing youngsters towards addiction, while the authorities had failed to curb the problem. He further alleged that the police machinery was being used for political purposes instead of concentrating on public safety.

Referring to incidents reported in the Raptadu constituency over the past 15–16 months, Jagan claimed that nine serious cases had occurred, including six involving women and girls. He cited the attack on Gopika, incidents involving Anusha, Savitribai and Savitramma, the alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old Scheduled Caste girl, and the murders of Kuruba Lingayya, Boya Nagesh and Narayana Reddy, besides the Spandana suicide case.