The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Twin murders fallout of gang rivalry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Twin murders fallout of gang rivalry

By Marri Ramu

HYDERABAD, DEC. 28. The murders of K. Venkat Reddy, a former naxalite, and Ch. Sampath Kumar, a car driver, whose bodies were found at Hayathnagar on the city fringes and Choutuppal of Nalgonda district respectively, were not only connected but were the result of a land dispute between two gangs.

Police believe that Venkat Reddy shot dead Kumar before being gunned down by the latter's associates near a lodge at Kachiguda in the State capital on December 11.

Detectives found that the killings were a fallout of a feud between two gangs - one led by Reddy and the other reportedly by a Mahabubnagar-based person, who was allegedly involved in the murder of a constable, Madhava Reddy. The constable was the prime accused in the sensational killing of a Telugu Desam Party MLA, Erra Satyam.

However, sleuths were yet to figure out the exact motive for Kumar getting involved in the rivalry between the two gangs. This had ruled out the involvement of a former naxalite, Nayeem, in Reddy's killing as alleged earlier by the latter's family members. Reddy's bullet-riddled body was found beneath a culvert. It was covered with dry leaves and twigs.

Incidentally, a body, which was subsequently identified as that of Kumar's, with a similar bullet wound, was found in bushes under Choutuppal police station limits of Nalgonda on December 11. Initially, police did not stumble upon any evidence linking the two homicides committed with firearms.

On receipt of information that Reddy was last spotted at Jai Hind lodge in Dilsukhnagar, the police picked up some persons, including a suspended police constable, who used to regularly meet the former naxalite there. Evidence was collected suggesting that the constable and Reddy recently came closer while settling a dispute between a suspended bank employee and partners of a private engineering college.

The needle of suspicion pointed towards Nayeem initially, as he had developed differences with Reddy over land dealing. But, further probe proved that Reddy was called to Suprabhat lodge in Kachiguda to settle matters pertaining to another land dispute.

"Somehow, the gang roped in Kumar to call Reddy to the lodge on December 11 evening," a police officer, wishing anonymity, explained. An argument ensued between Reddy and Kumar. It is learnt that Reddy shot at Kumar from close range, killing the latter on the spot.

Members of the Mahabubnagar gang got hold of Reddy and shot him dead later, police sources said.

Gangsters dumped the bodies at different places to mislead the sleuths. A hunt has been launched for the Mahabubnagar-based gang.

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