TIRUPATI: Chittoor, the district headquarter town 65 km from here, which remained tense on Friday following an abortive bid on the life of former MLA C.K. Babu by a gang of unidentified assailants, was on Saturday normal.

The district police, which pressed into service special teams to track down the fugitives, is sitting with its fingers crossed with no major break-through emerging yet in the investigation.

They are also said to have brought under close scanner all the Government and private hospitals, nursing homes in and around the district, on the premise that one of the assailants who was seriously hurt in the shoot-out could possibly come at any moment for treatment.

Going by the daring operation in the broad daylight on the highly protected Congress strongman, that too at a place that always is busy with activity, the police are suspecting the hand of some organised gang of hired-killers, possibly from Pavagada area of the neighbouring Anantapur district.

It may be recalled that about six months ago, Karnataka police have reportedly arrested a gang, which during interrogation was said to have confessed that they were `hired' to attack the former legislator, which eventually made the police strengthen the security cover for him.

Meanwhile, Chief Whip Kiran Kumar Reddy condemned the murder attempt on Mr. Babu, in Chittoor on Friday.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday after meeting Mr. Babu, he alleged that it was done with an intention and it would now be a challenge for the police to trace the accused persons.

TDP State council member B. N. Raja Simhulu and publicity committee district president Surendra Kumar also condemned the incident.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail