JAC formed as mystery shrouds Pastor Praveen Pagadala’s death

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been formed to seek justice for Pastor Praveen Pagadala, whose death under suspicious circumstances has raised serious concerns.

The committee has demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government release the post-mortem report and CCTV footage related to the case. They have also urged authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to bring the culprits to justice.

The JAC will be headed by Edward Samuel, NGOs Network Chairman at the All India Federation of Mother Teresa’s Social Organisations.

Kaveti International Law Firm has announced that it will take up the case on a pro bono basis. Dr. Kaveti Srinivas Rao, Esq, an international attorney and principal of the firm, has stated that petitions will be filed in the High Courts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as the United Nations Human Rights Council under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The firm is also seeking the intervention of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an independent probe.

Madiga political leader Kiran Kumar raised doubts over the official narrative, pointing to discrepancies in the CCTV footage from a toll plaza. “The personality of the person seen in the footage does not match Praveen. His helmet was already broken in the video, which raises further suspicions,” he said. He questioned whether Praveen was attacked elsewhere and his body later placed at the scene to mislead investigators. “We suspect that Praveen was beaten up at a different location, and someone else rode his bike to divert police attention before leaving his body at the alleged accident site. Even through his preaching, he was not offending anyone, so why would he be targeted?”

Catholic leader Leo Lewis claimed that Praveen had received threats to his life, along with some of his close associates. “His friends and colleagues were warned about potential danger, and now people are even threatening me and my family,” he said.

The International Christian Rescue Mission, a US-based organisation, has urged the American government to intervene and press India to ensure the protection of Christian minorities. The JAC has also appealed to the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to expedite the investigation and ensure justice is served.

“Footage from the crime scene has raised several inconsistencies that have fuelled suspicions of foul play. Despite his helmet remaining intact, the only visible injury was on the left side of his face. No skid marks were found at the scene, and debris was present, leading to speculation that his death was not accidental but a targeted attack,” said Mr. Srinivas.

In response to these findings, the JAC has demanded that the State government provide security for the deceased’s family and appropriate compensation. They have also called for the retrieval and analysis of the pastor’s telephone call records to identify any threats he may have faced before his death.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh police probing this case has not officially listed any person as suspects.

Initially reported as a road accident near Rajahmundry, Praveen’s family and community members suspect foul play and have called for a thorough investigation. In response, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.