Wounded SI was a livewire at Academy

Sub-inspector Nomula Venkatesh who was shot and wounded seriously by a fleeing robber on Friday is remembered by his peers at the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA) as quite a livewire. The 33-year-old officer was nicknamed ‘Agni’ for his fiery approach to enforcing the law. Venkatesh was hospitalised after being shot while chasing a gang of five that tried to hold up a bank in Medak district on Friday. Doctors at Krishna Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) operated on him and removed a 9 mm bullet lodged in his chest. Venkatesh was in the intensive care unit (ICU), his condition put at ‘stable’. To see him lying helpless was an ordeal for his family, especially 56-year-old mother Ilamma. “Doctors told me he will recover. I’m praying to god,’’ said Illamma with tear-filled eyes. The young officer began his career as sub-inspector posted to the Jinnaram police station in Medak district in 2009. While there, he earned a reputation of being a tough officer. He worked later posted to the Ramayampet police station and then to Kohir in the same district, where the botched hold up and shooting took place. Freshly after being posted to Kohir, Venkatesh started operations against matka gambling in the local villages. “He used to visit villages to counsel people to fight addiction to gambling,’’ said his close friend Giri, who has been selected as an assistant commercial taxes officer (ACTO).  Venkatesh was born in Mandapalli village in Alair mandal in Medak district. His parents, Ilamma and Ilaiah, are farmers. Venkatesh did his post-graduation at Nizam College and completed his B.Ed from a college in Bhongir. He was recruited to the police in 2009.He married Madhuri in 2011 and they have a six-month-old baby girl Vaishnavi.

By Moule Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com