I'm Not a Factionalist: Pothula Suresh

Pothula Suresh, who was hitherto lodged in the Charlapalli jail facing multiple murder charges, got released on bail yesterday. Pothula Suresh was the leader of erstwhile ROC (Re-Organisation Committee (ROC), a breakaway outfit of the People's War Group) and close aide of the slain Telugu Desam leader Paritala Ravindra. Suresh and his accomplice Chaman went in to hiding after Paritala was murdered. During that time, he didn't attend the courts and four non-bailable warrants were pending against him.

Out from jail, speaking to the media, Suresh said that he is not a factionalist as has been publicized, but a people's man. Whatever he has done, has done it for the people. He doesn't have any personal enmity with Maddelacheruvu Suri's family, but under the present circumstances fears threat to his life. He said that he would seek protection from the government. Pothula Suresh was facing charges of killing 45 people out of the 48 shortlisted by ROC. He surrendered to the court in 2002 and was being tried for the murder of C K Palli Sarpanch Kadiri Yellappa. The court yesterday, struck off the case for want of sufficient evidence. Suresh also got bails for the non-bailable warrants pending against him.