8 arrested for allegedly beating up two Dalit youths in Andhra Pradesh

Eight people were arrested by police yesterday for allegedly beating up two Dalit youth trying to skin a dead cow in Andhra Pradesh.  Allavaram police of East Godavari district, however, clarified that the incident, which happened late on Monday night, had nothing to do with cow vigilantism as suspected.

According to the police, the arrested were booked under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The police say that the villagers, who were looking for a missing cow, saw the two youth near a burial ground near



Sudhapalem village, trying to skin a dead cow and suspecting that they killed their animal attacked them and beat up. 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed anger over the incident and warned of stern action against anyone attacking Dalits and disturbing law and order. Yesterday he reviewed the incident with the Director General of Police (in charge) N Sambasiva Rao and Additional Director Generals RP Thakur and AB Venkateswara Rao, directing them to take strong action against culprits.