Published Mar 14, 2024 | 7:18 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 14, 2024 | 7:22 PM
Guntur SP Tushar Dudi adressing the media. (Screengrab)
The Andhra Pradesh police have arrested two people— Pasumarthi Rambabu (46) and Venkat Durga Rao (31)—in the Geetanjali suicide case on Thursday, 14 March.
Guntur Superintendent of Police, Tushar Dudi, said according to the railway police, and their investigation, Geetanjali had come in front of the train in an attempt to end her life.
Reportedly Rambabu is associated with the Opposition TDP. Rambabu’s family alleged that the arrest was illegal as there was no advance notice given.
Tushar Dudi speaking to the media informed, that the case has been now shifted to the Tenali One Town police station, and the accused have been booked under IPC sections 306 (Abetment of suicide), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 67 IT act.
SP Tushar Dudi stated, “Using open-source intelligence, cyber teams, and other resources, we have compiled a database of accounts that were used to harass her.”
“From this database, we have identified 60 account holders. We will be presenting the accused before the magistrate for remand. We will also take legal action against other individuals involved in this case,” he added.
#AndhraPradesh : The police have made the first arrest in #Geetanjali‘s case.
They arrested Pasumarthi Rambabu, who is reportedly a local @JaiTDP leader, for his abusive remarks against her on social media.
The family alleges that the arrest was illegal as there were no… pic.twitter.com/oFRmT3Xw9d
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 14, 2024
Geetanjali, a 32-year-old woman, was viciously trolled after her video praising Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan went viral.
Unable to bear the online abuse and trolling, she tried to end her life on the train tracks near Tenali Railway station in Guntur district last week. A severely injured Geetanjali was undergoing treatment. She succumbed to her injuries later on Monday, 11 March.
Speaking of the motive behind the suicide, the SP recalled the events of the week.
“Geetanjali after receiving the ‘patta’ spoke to the media channel ‘Mana Andhra’ on 4 March, and that video went viral within a couple of hours.”
He added, “The video clips were then cut and shared on various YouTube channels, and other social media handles. People started commenting on them abusing Geetanjali. She was very distressed due to the comments.”
Refusing to show the troll comments on a public platform, the SP said, “The comments under the video were extremely abusive, they targetted her children, and parents, and also abused her with sexually explicit words.”
The SP further recalling the events prior to her death, said that post the event, Geetanjali was extremely dull, “Even from the call data we could procure, she only spoke to six of her close relatives and friends in those days.”
“Distressed, she wanted to delete the comments under her video, but by then it was out of hand”
He added: “On 7 March she had an interview for a job at a private school in Vijayawada, she did not attend that too due to the trolling”
Expressing regret for the loss of a young life, Tushar Dudi urged others if faced with such situations to not be scared, and approach the police.
“We are here to help you, women can even approach through the Disha app or number, or send a message to file the complaint anonymously,” he advised.
Geetanjali in the now-viral video is seen speaking about the benefits she received under YS Jagan-led YSRCP government.
She received a plot for free under the Andhra Pradesh government’s “Jagananna Housing Scheme” on 4 March, and praised the YSRCP government for its welfare schemes on camera.
Geetanjali also vowed to vote for the YSRCP in the upcoming elections irrespective of “whatever the men in the family” would say.
Her three-minute statement infuriated YSRCP’s political rivals and their troll army allegedly targeted her personally.
