Woman Assaulted and Disrobed in Guntur: Nine Arrested, TDP Suspends Functionary
An incident of assault on a woman in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh has led to widespread outrage and swift police action. The event, which occurred on July 15, 2026, in Krishna Babu Colony under Nagarampalem police station limits, has drawn sharp political reactions from both the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
According to police and local sources, the dispute began when TDP ward secretary Mallela Venkata Ramana Murthy allegedly demanded money from a family seeking permission to drill a borewell. The family's previous borewell had been removed during drainage extension works by the Guntur Municipal Corporation. The disagreement escalated into violence.
A 46-year-old woman alleged that she was assaulted on a public road and that Thammisetti Venkatesh alias Madhavi, along with others, pulled off her clothes during the attack. A First Information Report was registered on July 16 based on the victim's complaint. Guntur Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal stated that all nine accused, including Murthy, his wife Sampurna, and Madhavi, were arrested on July 17 and produced before a court on July 18. The case has been booked under Sections 331(6), 79, 115(2), and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Controversy intensified after CCTV footage of the incident went viral on July 18, drawing condemnation from political leaders and civil society. The TDP suspended Murthy from the party following the allegations.
In a parallel development, the Guntur district police ordered departmental action against Nagarampalem Circle Inspector Y. Satyanarayana after a preliminary inquiry found lapses in responding promptly to the victim's complaint. SP Jindal said negligence in cases involving crimes against women would not be tolerated and instructed police personnel to handle every complaint with sensitivity and initiate legal action without delay.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu termed the incident “deeply disturbing,” asserting that the humiliation of any woman is unacceptable. He assured that no one would receive protection because of political affiliation. IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha also condemned the incident, reiterating the government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards crimes against women and directing strict legal action against both the accused and any officials found negligent.
Local TDP MLA Galla Madhavi said she would extend all possible support to the victim's family and assured that police have initiated prompt legal action.
Meanwhile, the YSRCP alleged that Murthy was a close associate of MLA Galla Madhavi and accused the ruling party of initially attempting to shield those involved. The opposition also alleged that police failed to act when the victim first approached them and questioned the government's commitment to women's safety. The ruling party rejected these allegations, pointing to the arrests, the suspension of a party functionary, and the disciplinary action against the police officer as evidence of their commitment to justice.
