A threatened strike by employees of Revenue Department in Andhra Pradesh was averted on Saturday with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu assuring employees of ordering an inquiry into the attack on Krishna District Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) D. Vanajakshi earlier this week.

The Chief Minister gave this assurance during a meeting with representatives of the A.P. Revenue Services Association (APRSA) who complained that Ms. Vanajakshi was attacked by supporters of TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar. She was roughed up by a group of people, said to be supporters of Mr. Prabhakar, when she went to inspect sand reaches from where sand was allegedly being diverted.

The issue took a serious turn with employees announcing a lockdown of revenue offices in Andhra Pradesh and boycotting duties during the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams. Following an invitation from the Government, a delegation of the RSA members led by president B. Venkateswarlu called on the Chief Minister at his residence on Saturday morning.

The TDP MLA too is said to have called on Mr. Naidu to explain his side of the controversy. Mr. Naidu, however, is learnt to have taken a serious view of the attack on a woman officer at a time when the Government is keen on arresting the illegal diversion of sand from reaches. The Chief Minister pacified the employees by agreeing to order an inquiry by a senior IAS officer into the incident.

Following the assurances of the Chief Minister, the Revenue Services Association announced its decision to call off its proposed strike from Monday. Ms. Vanajakshi, who accompanied the delegation, said that she welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to order a probe.