BHUPALPALLY: A farmer and his two sons were hacked to death in broad daylight at Gangaram village under Kataram mandal in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district, on Saturday. The deceased persons have been identified as Lavudya Manju Naik and his sons Saraiah Naik and Bhaskar Naik. The incident occured on Saturday afternoon when Manju Naik and his two sons were working in their agricultural field. They were hacked to death with an axe. Three persons, Lavudya Mahankali, 60, and his sons Bapu Naik, 33, and Bhaskar, 30, who are all related to Manju Naik, have been identified as accused and the police have formed teams to trace them. However, sources informed Express that the accused have already surrendered before the police and are now in custody.
Police officials said that dispute between the two families over a land measuring around six acres, led to the murder. A court case regarding the land dispute is pending. Speaking to the media, Bhaskar Naik’s wife Sunitha Mahankali alleged that Mahankali and his two sons went to the field where the victims were working and hacked the three to death with an axe. She said that they first threw chili powder into the eyes of the victims and then hacked them to death. She also said that another person named Samaiya, related to them, was also present when the incident happened. He escaped with injuries.
Sunitha further claimed that the court issued orders favouring their ownership over the disputed land, following which her husband had requested the Revenue Department officials to take the necessary follow-up measures. But the revenue officials neglected the court orders. Speaking to Express, Kataram DSP Bonala Kishan said that a land dispute between the victims and the perpetrators might have led to the murder. He said that the accused escaped from the spot after committing the crime and the police have deployed teams to trace them out. A case has been registered and the investigation is on, Bonala Kishan added.