Published Feb 25, 2026 | 10:25 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 25, 2026 | 11:12 PM
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Synopsis: Telangana Congress leaders have been accused of shielding those named in an alleged caste-based assault in Kummera village that led to the death of a two-month-old infant. The incident has sparked protests by BC and SC organisations. The Opposition BRS has sought murder charges and criticised the Congress government’s “unforgivable silence”. At the same time, Congress MP Mallu Ravi, himself a Dalit, has pressed for a fair and stringent inquiry.
Telangana Congress leaders have been accused of shielding those named in an alleged caste-based assault that allegedly led to the death of a two-month-old infant in Kummera village, Nagarkurnool district, earlier this month by villagers.
The infant’s mother, Maunika, from the Madiga community, a Scheduled Caste, said local Reddy leaders assaulted her husband during a dispute over a temple entry fee at a village fair. She said one of the accused kicked her infant during the assault and that the child died days later as a result.
Police have registered multiple cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Three men have been arrested and remanded, five others are absconding, and forensic findings are awaited to determine the final cause of death.
The incident has escalated into a political flashpoint. The Opposition BRS has demanded that murder charges be added and has accused the state government of protecting the accused.
Local BC, SC and ST organisations have staged protests demanding justice. Civil society groups said political affiliations are being used to protect the accused, including the village sarpanch.
In contrast, Congress MP for Nagarkurnool, Mallu Ravi, himself a Dalit, is pressing the government to ensure a fair probe and stringent action.
The clash took place on 18 February during the Sri Mallanna Swamy temple fair in Kummera.
Maunika, an orphan, had married Ganesh Rajaka in an inter-caste love marriage. Ganesh’s family had earlier been recognised as an “ideal couple” family because his sister had also married a person from the SC community.
According to the family and local activists, tensions began over the collection of ₹100 for temple entry. They alleged the collection was carried out under the influence of local Reddy community leaders, including the village sarpanch Tukaram Reddy.
Ganesh objected to the fee and later posted on social media questioning it.
At about 8.30 pm, Undyala Srinivas Reddy lodged a complaint stating that Chandrakala, Maunika’s mother, tried to bypass the queue and argued when questioned.
He alleged that Ganesh circulated an abusive audio clip against him in a village WhatsApp group and attacked him with a stone, causing a head injury. Police registered Crime No. 53/2026 under Sections 118(1) and 352 read with 3(5) of the BNS.
Later that night, Ganesh filed a counter-complaint alleging that Srinivas Reddy and others attacked and abused his family.
Police first entered it as a non-cognisable case and later, with court permission, converted it into Crime No. 66/2026 under Sections 115(2) and 352 read with 3(5) of the BNS.
In a statement on 22 February, Maunika alleged that Srinivas Reddy, Tukaram Reddy and others confined Ganesh in a room and beat him with iron rods and coconuts.
She alleged that Sangam Madhu Reddy kicked her two-month-old baby during the assault. She said the child’s health deteriorated in the following days.
On 21 February at about 6 am, after she was found unresponsive, the infant was taken to the Government Hospital in Nagarkurnool, where she was declared brought dead.
Based on Maunika’s complaint, police registered Crime No. 61/2026 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police also registered Crime No. 60/2026 under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita relating to suspicious death.
On 23 February, police arrested A1 Srinivas Reddy, A2 Madhusudan Reddy and A3 Srikant Reddy and remanded them to judicial custody.
Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Kanni Reddy, Katike Naresh, Tukaram Reddy, Satish Reddy and Madhav Reddy are absconding. Police have formed special teams to trace them.
Superintendent of Police Dr Sangram Singh Patil and DSP Srinivas visited the village and inspected the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao visited the family on 25 February and demanded that murder charges be invoked against the eight accused.
He called the killing “inhuman”, accused the state government of “unforgivable silence” and demanded ₹1 crore compensation. He announced ₹10 lakh for the construction of a house and handed over ₹1 lakh as immediate aid.
He alleged that political influence was being used to dilute the case and warned that those backing the accused would be equally culpable.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
