Andhra Pradesh   

Two Congressmen shot dead by TDP gunman

Staff Reporter

Trouble during filing of nominations for PACS elections

KADAPA: Two Congressmen were shot dead by the gunman of a Telugu Desam Party leader in a sudden eruption of violence and arson in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's Assembly constituency, during filing of nominations for elections to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) on Tuesday.

In retaliation, Congress activists went on a rampage setting ablaze and later razing to the ground the TDP office in Pulivendula using an excavator besides damaging houses and vehicles of Telugu Desam leaders.

Trouble began when TDP State secretary Satish Kumar Reddy reached Velpula to monitor the filing of nominations by TDP candidates for the cooperative polls. Congressmen, numbering about 200, objected to his entry into the village and threw stones injuring five TDP members.

Five policemen present on bandobust duty tried in vain to control the situation.

At this stage, TDP leader's gunman Venkateswarlu opened fire at the Congress workers. However, Congress leaders alleged that it was Mr. Satish Reddy who opened fire with his gunman's weapon.

Two Congress activists — Chappidi Ramakrishna Reddy (52) of Peddajutoor village and Gajjela Gangi Reddy (48) of Chintalajutoor village — succumbed to bullet wounds while another, Thoogutla Papi Reddy, suffered bullet injuries. Earlier, five TDP activists sustained injuries in stone-pelting.

Case filed

The situation was brought under control when Kadapa SP Y. Nagi Reddy along with armed police forces rushed to Pulivendula and warned the mob that shoot-at-sight orders would be issued.

The Vemula police registered a case of murder under Section 302 IPC against Mr. Satish Reddy.

Mr. Reddy was charged with opening fire at Congressmen with the 9 mm carbine of his gunman after a group clash.

The case was booked on a dying declaration by a Congressman Gajjela Gangi Reddy, the police said.

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