Clashes between rival political parties claimed the life of a 34-year-old college lecturer in Mallamgunta village on Sunday as he was electrocuted by a live wire left on the road by miscreants allegedly belonging to one of the parties.
More than 15 houses were set afire and several others damaged at various places.
In Mallamgunta of SR Puram mandal, TDP candidate Bhupati Reddy won over his opponent, Raja Reddy, who belongs to YSRC. Unable to take the defeat, followers of Raja Reddy attacked Bhupati and his supporters’ houses between 3 am to 6 am on Sunday.
Several houses belonging to TDP men were vandalised and three of them were set on fire. To switch off the power supply, the miscreants snapped away the power lines, and one live current wire fell on the road. V Kodandaiah (34), a temporary college lecturer, stepped on the live wire and got electrocuted.
Later, Bhupati Reddy’s supporters retaliated and attacked Raja Reddy’s followers.
They later staged a protest on the main road with Kodandaiah’s dead body demanding action against the culprits.
Chittoor DSP S Rajeshwara Reddy and RDO P Kishore pacified the agitators. They assured compensation to Kodandaiah’s family and also a government job to his wife.
In Anantapur, YSRC followers attacked TDP activists’ houses and set fire to eight houses leading to a loss of `10 lakh. The attack was a result of loss of YSRC candidate in the polls, police said.
In Vasanthapuram of Gudipala mandal, five persons were injured in attacks and counter attacks by TDP and Congress men. Similarly in K Gollapalli and Chennareddypalle in Yadamari mandal, activists of Congress, TDP and YSRC clashed with each other leading to setting fire to four cattle sheds and rampaging of mango orchards of the party leaders.
Late in the night, clashes broke out at Kalyanapuram when TDP men prevented Congress activists from entering the village.
Eight persons belonging to the two groups were injured.