Police says, no involvement of Subba Rao in S’ bad arson

By Our Special Correspondent

The Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday reportedly took into custody, Avula Subba Rao, director of Sai Defence Academy, the alleged mastermind behind the rampage at the Secunderabad railway Station on Friday. Rao was picked up at Guntur following questioning about his role in the violence.

Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand confirmed that Subba Rao was taken into custody by the Guntur police. The police are yet to officially place him under arrest.

“We got back a video that was deleted from his YouTube channel, which is running in the name of his academy. Mention is made only of the new Army recruitment scheme and its comparison with the previous one. He did not inspire optimism against the 'On Record' scheme. However, we do not completely rule out his role as he is likely to verbally provoke his students,”SP Y Ravishankar Reddy told media.

Subba Rao hails from Turimella of Cumbum mandal in Prakasam district and opened the academy some 12 years ago at Narasaraopet to train youth for recruitment into the defence forces. He recently opened another branch of his academy in Secunderabad. Subbarao soon became popular in the Defense Academy circles. He gained fame overnight with detailed explanations about Army recruitment and tips for students in YouTube videos.

Their photo caption in the group said, “Sai Defence Academy Director Avula Subba Rao has reached Hyderabad. He is extending support for the protest at Secunderabad Railway Station tomorrow. We request other directors also to support us in this.”

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Sunday, Secunderabad Railway SP Anuradha said the role of some defence academy directors was found behind the agitation and violence that reportedly misguided students and Army aspirants. But, she did not name anyone.