On a sweltering afternoon in Tenali on June 3, 2025, the former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stood surrounded by thousands of supporters, their cheers filling the air. The town’s streets were alive with energy as people waved and rode alongside his convoy in a bike rally. But Jagan wasn’t here for a celebration. He had come to comfort families shattered by a brutal act of police violence, a moment that has come to symbolize what he calls a total breakdown of law and order in Andhra Pradesh. With pain in his voice and fire in his words, he called on the people to mark June 4 as “Betrayal Day,” a statewide protest against a government he says has failed its promises and turned the police into a tool of oppression.
A Heartbreaking Incident in Tenali
Jagan’s visit was sparked by a video that shocked the state—a raw, painful glimpse of three young men being beaten by Tenali II Town police on April 25 and 26, 2025. Rakesh, a delivery worker for Zomato in Hyderabad; John Victor, a young lawyer with dreams of justice; and Karimullah, a mechanic, all from Mangalagiri, were the victims. Two are Dalits, one is from a minority community. Their only mistake, Jagan explained, was questioning a plainclothes constable during an argument in Aitha Nagar on April 24.
The police didn’t stop at an arrest. They dragged the young men from Mangalagiri to Tenali, beat them inside the police station, and then, the next day, humiliated them in public, thrashing them on the streets of Aitha Nagar. “They begged the police to stop, but the officers kept going, stripping away their dignity in front of everyone,” Jagan said, his voice heavy with emotion. He accused the police of planting a knife in Victor’s pocket to frame him and failing to bring the youths to court on time, breaking the law they’re meant to uphold. The officers involved, including the Tenali II Town Circle Inspector and another station’s CI, even held a panchnama with a Village Revenue Officer present, but Jagan called it a sham to cover their cruelty.
“Who gave the police the right to beat people on the streets?” Jagan asked, his eyes flashing with anger. “If someone has a case, let the courts decide. Chandrababu Naidu has 24 cases against him—would they drag him out and beat him like this? Is this fair? Who will give these families their respect back?” He pointed out that the police only opened rowdy sheets against the young men after the video went viral, a desperate attempt to justify their actions. Worse, he said, some media outlets falsely called them ganja peddlers and troublemakers, adding insult to injury.
A Family’s Grief, a Leader’s Vow
At John Victor’s home, Jagan sat with the young man’s parents, their faces etched with pain. They showed him photos and hospital reports, proof of the brutal beatings their son endured. “They treated him like he wasn’t human,” they told Sakshi, their voices breaking. “For three days, they didn’t give him food, and they wouldn’t let us see him at the station.” Jagan listened, his heart heavy, and promised that YSRCP would stand by them. He called for the officers to be punished under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and accused government doctors of hiding the truth about the injuries to protect the police.
This wasn’t just about one incident, Jagan said. It was a sign of a deeper problem—a “Red Book Constitution” where Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s coalition government, made up of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and JanaSena Party (JSP), is using the police to silence anyone who speaks out. Jagan pointed to other cases, like in Dachepally and Rajamahendravaram, and the harassment of activists Sudha Rani and Krishnaveni, who were dragged between police stations and hit with false charges. “The police are acting like collection agents for TDP leaders, taking bribes from liquor, sand, and mining deals,” he said, his words carrying the weight of betrayal.
Betrayal Day: A Plea for Justice
Jagan’s voice grew stronger as he spoke of the government’s broken promises. “When we were in power, we helped everyone—32 lakh house sites, English-medium schools, 17 medical colleges, family doctors for the poor. But this government has stopped it all. They owe Rs. 3,600 crore in school fee reimbursements, education is crumbling, healthcare is gone, and farmers have no support—no crop insurance, no e-crop system,” he said, shaking his head. “They’ve piled up Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in debt and haven’t kept a single one of their 143 election promises.”
He called on the people to rise up. “This government can’t go on like this. The sooner it’s gone, the better for all of us,” Jagan said, announcing “Betrayal Day” on June 4. Known as Vennupotu Dinam in Telugu, it’s a call for every person to join YSRCP in protesting a government that Jagan says has stabbed the state in the back. “They’re crushing voices that question them, filing false cases against our leaders and workers. We can’t stay silent,” he urged.
A Visit Marked by Neglect
Jagan’s trip to Tenali wasn’t easy. Despite the huge crowds cheering him on, the government provided almost no security. From Chintalapudi check post to Tenali, his convoy faced delays, with no police rope party to manage the sea of supporters. Even at John Victor’s home, only a few officers stood by, acting like they didn’t care. YSRCP workers had to step in to keep Jagan safe, a glaring sign of the government’s neglect. The packed streets, alive with supporters, only made the lack of police support more obvious, fueling YSRCP’s claims that the coalition is targeting them.
A State Hurting, a Fight Ahead
The Tenali beatings have left deep scars, especially for Dalit and minority communities, who are furious. Groups like the Human Rights Forum are demanding a full investigation, calling the police actions “cruel and against the Constitution.” YSRCP leaders, like SV Satish Kumar Reddy, have echoed Jagan’s anger, accusing the government of targeting the vulnerable. But not everyone welcomed Jagan’s visit. Some Dalit groups and locals blocked roads in Tenali’s market center, upset that he seemed to defend “rowdy sheeters” and didn’t visit the family of Nuthakki Kiran, a victim of violence during YSRCP’s rule.
Andhra Pradesh is a state on edge. The 2024 elections saw the TDP-JSP-BJP coalition win big, taking 165 of 175 assembly seats and 21 of 25 Lok Sabha seats, while YSRCP fell from 151 seats to just 10. People were frustrated with YSRCP’s time in power, and the coalition’s teamwork paid off. But Jagan hasn’t given up. His visit to Tenali and his call for Betrayal Day show he’s ready to fight back, rallying people around the pain of families like those in Tenali and the broken promises of a government he says has lost its way. As June 4 approaches, Andhra’s streets may tell the story of a people ready to demand better.
