Hyderabad, October 21, 2025 – In a somber address marking Police Commemoration Day, Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) M Mahender Reddy issued a stern warning to the state's criminal underworld, pledging a no-holds-barred offensive against lawbreakers in the wake of the brutal stabbing death of a young Nizamabad constable. The 28-year-old officer, identified as K Suresh, was felled by a machete-wielding assailant during a routine night patrol in the bustling Kamareddy district town, sending shockwaves through the police fraternity and igniting public fury over escalating street violence.
The incident unfolded late Sunday night in Nizamabad's crowded old market area, where Constable Suresh and his partner were responding to reports of a petty brawl outside a roadside tea stall. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic melee as the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old local rowdy sheeter Ravi Kumar, allegedly high on illicit substances, turned his aggression on the officers. "He came out of nowhere, swinging that blade like a madman," recounted shopkeeper Raju Patel, who captured grainy footage on his phone showing Suresh collapsing in a pool of blood as colleagues rushed to his aid. Despite frantic efforts by paramedics, Suresh succumbed to multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen en route to the district hospital, leaving behind a wife and two-year-old daughter.
The attack's ferocity escalated into a high-drama confrontation hours later at the same hospital, where Kumar – under custody for initial questioning – attempted a daring escape and assaulted guarding officers. In the ensuing scuffle, which spilled into the emergency ward and endangered patients and staff, police resorted to opening fire, fatally shooting the accused in the leg after he allegedly lunged with a smuggled shard of glass. Two constables sustained minor injuries from the tussle, including bruises and a fractured wrist, while doctors and nurses barricaded themselves in adjacent rooms amid the pandemonium. "We had no choice; it was him or our lives – and the lives of innocents here," stated Nizamabad Superintendent of Police Akhileshwar Singh in a post-incident briefing, praising the quick thinking that neutralized the threat without further casualties.
DGP Reddy, flanked by top brass including Inspector General of Police (IGP) M Ramesh at the State Police Headquarters, channeled the collective grief into a resolute call to arms during his televised address. "This is not just an attack on one brave soul; it's an assault on the very shield of our society," Reddy declared, his voice steady but laced with resolve. "Constable Suresh's blood cries out for justice, and we will deliver it. From today, every district will see intensified patrols, zero tolerance for repeat offenders, and a surge in intelligence-driven operations. Criminals, take note: Telangana's streets will no longer be your playground." He announced immediate measures, including a statewide audit of rowdy sheets, enhanced training in de-escalation tactics for frontline personnel, and a ₹5 lakh ex-gratia payment to Suresh's family, alongside job assurances for his widow.
The tragedy has amplified longstanding concerns over police vulnerability in Telangana's rural and semi-urban pockets, where understaffing and resource shortages have left officers exposed. State police data reveals a 22% rise in assaults on personnel over the past year, often linked to alcohol-fueled altercations and drug rackets. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who paid floral tributes at Suresh's residence in Nizamabad this morning, echoed the DGP's vow, terming the killing "a dark stain on our progress" and promising legislative reforms to bolster officer safety, including mandatory body cams and rapid-response units. "Our police are our sentinels; harming them harms us all," the CM posted on X, urging citizens to report suspicious activities via a new anonymous hotline launched today.
Public response has been a mix of mourning and mobilization. Vigils lit up Nizamabad's streets last night, with hundreds of locals, including students from nearby Telangana University, marching under the banner "Justice for Suresh – Protect Our Protectors." Opposition BJP leaders, led by Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh, criticized the Congress government for "lax law enforcement," demanding a white paper on crime trends and alleging political patronage to local goons. "Empty promises won't bring back Suresh; we need action, not optics," Nagesh said during a press conference.
As Telangana honors its 358 police martyrs on this poignant Commemoration Day – including those lost to Maoist insurgencies in the state's forested north – Suresh's death serves as a grim catalyst. DGP Reddy concluded his address with a poignant salute: "We stand taller in loss, fiercer in fight." With Kumar's postmortem underway and investigations probing potential accomplices, the coming weeks will test the mettle of Reddy's crackdown pledge. For now, in the shadow of tragedy, Telangana's law enforcers recommit to the badge, one vigilant step at a time.
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