Amalapuram (East Godavari): Amalapuram cops on Thursday arrested Vaka Gopi, 26, the eighth accused in the case relating to beating of three Dalits. Seven other accused, all farmers, were arrested two days after the incident that took place at Sudhapalem village near Amalapuram last Monday.
The three Dalits, Mokati Elisa, Mokati Venkatesh and Savarapu Lakshman were skinning a cow that was given to them by its owner after it died of electrocution when they were confronted by the accused farmers who charged the Dalits with stealing and killing one of their cows. The Dalits were then tied to trees and beaten with stones and sticks. They were later rescued by a police party and admitted to hospital.
East Godavari SP M Ravi Prakash told media persons that all the accused have been booked under the SC/ST Atrocities Act as well as for attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC.