Visakhapatnam: For the Three Town police, the CCTV footage from the HSBC call centre at Siripuram Junction is the last option to resolve the allegations levelled against the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and HSBC authorities over the death of 35-year-old D Appala Konda, who died in a manhole on Friday.
The police have already booked a case under section 304 (A) of the IPC based on a complaint lodged by Suryanarayana, Appala Konda's maternal uncle. There have been allegations that the civic worker died due to negligence of the GVMC and HSBC management.
As Appala Konda died in the manhole located along the main road connecting Siripuram Junction with the Andhra University out gate towards the beach, the police have asked for the CCTV footage from one of the cameras at HSBC pointing towards the main road.
Confirming this to TOI, the Three Town sub-inspector M Srinivasa Rao said, "We have written a letter to the HSBC management to provide us with the CCTV footage for investigation. The HSBC local authorities said they have to consult with their higher-ups for the request. Until then we will continue with our manual investigation."
Meanwhile, sources said that the cops would also interrogate G Appa Rao, a private contractor who was reportedly asked by the HSBC management to engage three workers including D Appala Konda to take up cleaning of the manhole on Friday. "Appa Rao should have not agreed to take up such sensitive works that need proper safety measures. But he did," said a cop, who is a part of the investigation team.
Members of the CITU city unit staged a protest in front of the GVMC office on Saturday demanding arrest of the responsible GVMC and HSBC officials besides the contractor. They also demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of the deceased.
P Venkata Reddy, president of CITU affiliated GVMC Conract Workers' Union, said they demanded permanent employment to one of the kin of the deceased as well as a house to the family. "This apart, we have also demanded criminal action against the responsible HSBC management and the contractor. We will fight the case till we get desired results," Reddy said, adding that they will go on a strike on Monday by stopping all civic activities like sanitation and water supply.
GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar told TOI, "In this case the GVMC was not informed about the sanitation works. But the contractor has agreed to pay Rs 3 lakh and contract employment to the deceased's wife. One JNNURM house will also be allotted to the bereaved family. I have asked UGD superintending engineer to submit a report to take action against the contractor.
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