A very disturbing case out of Kuppam, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s home constituency, has fueled outrage all over the state. Sirisha, a woman, was said to have been tied to a tree and beaten by residents after her husband defaulted on a loan — all of which has raised serious questions about law and order in the state.
As per locals, Sirisha’s husband, Muni Kannappa, had taken a loan of ₹80,000 from a person named Thimmarayappa. Since the debt was not cleared, the family had moved to another location to avoid monetary and social stress. However, while Sirisha was back at her village recently, she was reportedly harassed, handcuffed, and humiliated in public by the family of Thimmarayappa.
The viral attack on social media had the government reacting in a timely manner. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was quick to respond and condemned the act purportedly carried out by the rowdy and asked the authorities to take strict legal action against the perpetrators. He also mentioned that we need to support the victim and ensure their safety and security.
Politically, AP Congress leader and President Y.S. Sharmila was severe on the incident, terming it “a horrifying and shameful act in a so-called civilized society.” She minced no words and said, “To tie a woman to a tree in front of her child is a cruelty that no society should tolerate.
She did not hesitate to point fingers at the ruling leadership, questioning if such activities are sanctioned by government silence or administrative laxity, particularly when they occur in the CM’s backyard. “Is this the safety Telugu women are promised?” she challenged, resorting straight to the Telugu Desam Party’s boast of guarding women.
Sharmila also called upon the state government to accept the complete responsibility for the traumatization of the woman and to provide her family with immediate relief. She called upon the government to clearly send the message across that such acts of savagery will not be accepted, and reiterated that effective preventive measures are taken so that no woman will suffer this injustice again.