ANANTAPUR: Sharp shooter Julakanti Srinivas Reddy, known as ‘Moddu’ Seenu, key accused in the TDP MLA Paritala Ravi murder case, was bludgeoned to death by a fellow prisoner at the Anantapur district jail early on Sunday.
The incident sparked off a series of allegations against the Government with the TDP laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Chief Minister and alleging that he had masterminded the murder.
Seenu (38) had reportedly conveyed to the CBI, which is probing the Paritala murder case, his intention to turn approver –– which meant that all aspects of the case, including possible involvement of the powers-that-be, would be public. The Chief Minister and his colleagues rubbished the allegations and said the Government was open to a CBI probe.
According to Anantapur district SP M K Singh, around 4.40 a.m Mallela Om Prakash (32), an under-trial, picked up a cement dumbbell and smashed Seenu’s head. Seenu, who was asleep, died instantly. Prakash even gnawed Seenu’s right ear.
Four other prisoners heard the thud and immediately informed the jail authorities.
Officials said for the past two weeks, Om Prakash and Seenu had been quarrelling over keeping the light on till late in the night and watching television. Seenu reportedly slapped Om Prakash once. While Om Prakash wanted to read his books and write Ramakoti in the night, Seenu wanted to sleep. Around 9 p.m.
last night, both had a heated argument over the same matter.
The cement dumbbell, which found its way into the barracks, should not have been there at all as it is strictly against prison norms to have such objects.
When senior officials reached the barracks, Om Prakash admitted to the murder. What came as a surprise is that though both had not been getting along well in the barrack, the prison staff had no idea about it.
Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, Home Minister K Jana Reddy said Seenu was taken to Anantapur jail from Cherlapalli central prison on Aug 28 for trial in the Paritala case.
Simultaneously, 12 other accused, including Maddelacheruvu Suri, were also taken to Anantapur jail.
Seenu was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in connection with the bomb blast at a hotel in Chandanagar on the city outskirts a few years ago and simultaneously, he was attending the trial in the Paritala Ravi case.
Om Prakash, an accused in dacoity and triple murder cases at Vajrakarur in Anantapur district, was lodged in Uravakonda sub-jail. As it was being repaired, he was shifted to the district jail 10 days ago and lodged in the same barrack where Seenu and four others were lodged. ‘‘A probe is on by DGP SSP Yadav and DG (Prisons). If the prison staff are involved, stern action will be taken against them,’’ Jana Reddy said. Earlier in the morning, the jail staff initially said Seenu had died due to ‘‘ill-health!’’