A major socio-political controversy continues to unfold in Nagarkurnool district following the tragic death of a two-month-old infant, sparking sharp political divides, grassroots protests, and institutional interventions over allegations of caste-based violence and discrimination.
The incident originated at Kummera village during the Sri Mallanna Swamy Jatara festival. According to complaints filed by the family and regional Backward Classes (BC) organizations, members of the Rajaka (washermen) community were allegedly subjected to caste slurs and denied entry into the temple premises by organizers, including the village sarpanch and other local figures. The confrontation escalated into physical violence; the family alleged that during the scuffle, the infant was thrown to the ground and sustained fatal injuries, tragically succumbing a few days later. In response to the initial localized friction, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) stepped in, ordering a comprehensive investigation from the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the allegations of murder, assault, and police inaction.
The tragedy has quickly become a polarized political battleground. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao visited the grieving family to demand swift justice, criminal cases under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, and significant state compensation, accusing the ruling Congress government of failing to protect marginalized communities. Conversely, senior Congress leaders, including Nagarkurnool MP Dr. Mallu Ravi, have heavily rejected the narrative connecting the infant’s death to the temple altercation. Citing preliminary medical and post-mortem findings, the Congress camp maintains the infant passed away due to congenital lung complications without any external or internal physical injuries, accusing opposition parties of intentionally exploiting the family’s grief for political leverage.