Coal tipper runs over Bhupalpalli DTO, mafia angle suspected

BRS leader Harish Rao demanded that the government investigate if coal and sand mafia interests were behind the killing.

Hyderabad: A District Transport Officer (DTO) was killed on Monday, June 22, after a coal tipper lorry ran him over while he was conducting vehicle inspections on the Parakala-Bhupalpalli highway in Jayashankar Bhupalpalli district, triggering demands for a probe into the role of the coal and sand mafia.

Venkanna, who had been posted to Bhupalpalli only 15 days ago on transfer, was inspecting vehicles along with his staff in front of the RTO office in the outskirts of Chelpur, Ganapuram mandal, when a speeding coal tipper struck him. He died on the spot. The impact left his body badly mutilated.

Police have arrested the tipper driver.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar expressed shock over the incident, calling the death of an officer while on duty deeply unfortunate. He offered condolences to Venkanna’s family.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) deputy floor leader and former minister T Harish Rao questioned whether the incident was an accident, demanding that the government investigate if coal and sand mafia interests were behind the killing. Asking whether those who stood up to illegal mining operations were being mowed down by lorries, Harish Rao said the government had a responsibility to bring out the truth behind Venkanna’s death, expose those running illegal operations under the cover of threatening officials, and take strict action against the guilty.

Another leader, V Lachchi Reddy, also called for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.