Kurnool, Prakasam remain tense after faction killings

The situation continues to be eerie in Kurnool and Prakasam districts in the wake of faction killings during the last few days.

KURNOOL/ONGOLE/VIJAYAWADA : The situation continues to be eerie in Kurnool and Prakasam districts in the wake of faction killings during the last few days.Though Kurnool bandh called by YSR Congress to protest against the murder of YSRC Pathikonda Assembly constituency in-charge Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy and his aide in gangland fashion evoked partial response in the district on Monday, there is a sense of fear over what future holds in store for them as factionists are bent on maintaining statistical balance.


In Prakasam, tension was palpable after the double murder of followers of MLC Karanam Balaramakrishna Murthy allegedly by the followers of MLA Gottipati Ravi Kumar a couple of days ago. On Monday, the persuasive skills of police paid off with Ravi Kumar faction surrendering as many as 14 accused to the police.

An aide of Ravi Kumar brought the accused persons to Santhamaguluru police station and handed them over to Superintendent of Police CM Trivikram Varma. The police are yet to lay their hands on three more persons as the total number of accused is 17.


In Kurnool, the day began with YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy paying respects to Narayana Reddy at his funeral at Cherukulapadu. 
Moved by Narayana Reddy’s widow Sridevi Reddy’s plight, Jagan told the family members that the party would stand by them. 


Earlier in the day, accompanied by his senior colleagues, Jagan made a representation to Governor ESL Narasimhan in Hyderabad and explained to him how the TDP was unleashing a reign of terror and eliminating YSRC leaders unable to face them on a political plane. Speaking to mediapersons, he said the situation would continue to remain tense unless Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is sent to jail.

Asserting that the murder of Narayana Reddy was engineered by Deputy CM KE Krishnamurthy, Jagan said TDP tries to lure YSRC leaders and if the trick does not work, it is resorting to physical liquidation. 
Meanwhile, Krishnagiri police took two persons into custody on Monday suspecting their involvement in the murder of Narayana Reddy. Cops named Deputy CM Krishna Murthy’s son KE Shyam Babu as an accused in the case.


Krishnagiri SI Somla Naik said: “We have listed 15 persons as accused in the case based on a complaint lodged by Golla Krishna Mohan of Cherukulapadu.” DGP N Sambasiva Rao assured that the culprits will be brought to justice soon. Speaking to mediapersons at Visakhapatnam, the DGP denied allegations.

“The security cover for Narayana Reddy was removed in 2013 and since then the cover was on and off. It is a fact that the licence for his revolver expired on March 31 and he had given a renewal application. We will verify why it was delayed. But there is no doubt that it was a faction killing,” DGP said. 


Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that Jagan’s family has promoted factionalism and political killings in Rayalaseema.  While describing the faction killings in Prakasam and Kurnool as painful, he said it was late YS Rajareddy and YS Rajasekhara Reddy earlier and Jagan now encouraged faction killings in Rayalaseema. Naidu said: “A murder is not an answer to another murder. We do not encourage faction politics and violence. During my earlier regime I controlled the Communist and Maoist violence,” he said. 


Deputy CM Krishnamurthy said in Vijayawada that his family, TDP or its chief had nothing to do with the murder of Narayana Reddy.  “I have a clean image. I never indulged in faction politics,” he said.

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