ANANTAPUR: Former MLA K. Suryapratap Reddy's murder came as a surprise to many as he was not considered a target for rivalry since he was ailing with multiple health problems for over two years now.

Since the change in Government, it was his younger brother Pedda Reddy who feared threat. He had allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill factional rivals Bhogati Narayana Reddy, Kalluru Pratapa Reddy and others, all followers of J.C. Diwakar Reddy, using hired assassins from Kurnool district. However, police had foiled the plan by nabbing the gang of assassins on January 18 in two batches as they were waiting to hit Narayana Reddy and Pratapa Reddy. On February 2, 2006, two Congress activists Bhaskar Reddy and Narayanaswamy of Vasapuram, both followers of Narayana Reddy were hacked to death as they were returning home after attending Sonia Gandhi's public meeting at Bandlapalli.

Involvement in murder

The two were allegedly involved in the murder of Kedar Naidu, follower of Suryapratap Reddy at Anantapur in December 2004. Pedda Reddy was named conspirator both in the killing of the two Congress activists and in planning to kill Narayana Reddy and Pratapa Reddy. Having eluded police since January 18, Pedda Reddy had surrendered in court here on March 17 and was moved to Tadipatri sub-jail. Police pickets have been set up in all sensitive areas in the district.

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