Telangana

Telugu stars cheer on police for reported encounter of accused in Hyderabad vet rape

While the deaths have been questioned by many, most Tollywood actors and filmmakers appreciated the police for the killings.

Written by : TNM Staff

Soon after the reported police encounter of the four accused in the Hyderabad vet’s gangrape and murder case came to light, many people took to social media to express their views on the incident. Among those to react to the news were Tollywood celebrities, who also took to social media. Many actors and directors expressed their approval and support for the police, saying that the killings of the four accused, Areef, Shiva, Naveen and Chennakeshavulu, have served justice to Disha (name changed) and her family.  

“JUSTICE SERVED! Now, Rest In Peace Disha,” wrote actor Jr NTR. 

The plot of Jr NTR’s 2015 film Temper revolved around a case of a gangrape and murder, where Jr NTR plays a cop who ensures that the four men who committed the crime are sentenced to death.  During the public outcry following the gangrape and murder of the 26-year old veterinarian Disha, scenes from the film were widely shared on WhatsApp and social media platforms, demanding justice for Disha by killing the accused. The actor’s tweet also received several replies with visuals from the film. 

Akkineni Nagarjuna also tweeted that the deaths had served justice to Disha. 

“This morning I wake up to the news and JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!! #Encounter,” tweeted actor Nagarjuna Akkineni. 

Samantha Akkineni, his daughter-in-law, too was happy with the reported encounter. 

“I (heart emoji) TELANGANA. Fear is a great solution and sometimes the only solution,” she said on the microblogging site. 

Rashmika Mandanna also tweeted that justice was served through their deaths. 

“I hope your soul now rest in peace #priyankareddy. For all the good you did in this world - justice is served- god’s always watching. #Encounter #RIPPriyankReddy,” Rashmika wrote.  

Actor, producer and television host Lakshmi Manchi thanked the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar, and his son and Minister KT Rama Rao and daughter and former MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha for setting ‘an example to our nation’. 

“I do NOT feel bad. I was always against capital punishment but I've changed my mind over the years. Rapists MUST hang! Thank you kcr garu for standing as an example to our nation and showing respect to women! @RaoKavitha @KTRTRS,” tweeted actor Lakshmi Manchu. 

Rakulpreet Singh, who also thanked Telangana police, tweeted, “How far can you run away after committing a crime like Rape .. #JusticeForPriyankaReddy #Encounter thankyou #Telangana  police”

Actor Nandamuri Kalyan Ram also congratulated the police for the killings. 

“Nothing can erase the pain of the grieving family! But, this will hopefully bring some closure. Justice has been served. Rest in Peace Disha! Kudos to @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice,” wrote actor Nandamuri Kalyan Ram on Twitter. 

Director Puri Jagannadh, who made the film Temper, tweeted, “Salute Telangana. I join my hands in front of the police department. You are the real heroes. I always believe one thing. Whenever we are in trouble, it is the police who come to our aid. Even if we pray to god seeking help, god sends a police officer. 

Actor Nani tweeted, “Every town must have only one rowdy, and that rowdy must be a police officer.”

Ravi Teja called the killings a starting point to preventing such crimes. “Serving justice to #Disha doesn’t stop here but starts from here by preventing such heinous crimes through education, empowerment and enlightenment from childhood. JaiHind. Now Rest in Peace Disha,” he tweeted. 

Actor Rahul Ramakrishna, however, said that the deaths are not a form of justice but an act to merely deal with public anger. “That wasn’t justice. That was a safety valve set in place to diffuse unmanageable public anger. Actual justice comes from enforcing laws that seek to prevent crime from happening,” he wrote. 

“This is a good time to note how brazen the police force has become with no regard for the law of this land. Also a good time to understand how the Constitution of India holds very little value among its own citizens,” he added. 

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also questioned the encounters, advocating for due process of the law. 

"With regard to encounter killings ,the fundamental foundation of any society is to control emotional outbursts and apply rationality in a due process of the rule of law ..so encounters cannot be justified under any circumstances," Ram Gopal Varma tweeted. 

On a similar vein, many people have questioned the extra-judicial killings, with legal experts saying that an immediate probe must be conducted into the reported encounter as per law, since the deaths occurred in police custody. 

The four accused Areef, Shiva, Naveen and Chennakeshavulu were taken to the spot on Friday morning to recreate the scene for collection of evidence. Police claim the accused attempted to escape by taking the guns of the policemen who accompanied them, and were subsequently shot in an encounter.  

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