ANANTAPUR: A private settlement of Rs 20,000 taken as a hand loan sparked off a fight at Veerapalle in VN Mandal in Kadapa district during which a YSRC leader opened fire on a mandal level Telugu Desam leader and his three close aides who suffered bullet injuries.
Sources said Telugu Desam leader Vijayabhaskar Reddy and his aides K. Ramanatha Reddy, Dhanunjaya Reddy and Gangi Reddy suffered bullet injuries after YSRC leader M. Srinivasa Reddy opened fire on them.
Police sources revealed that there was a quarrel over the settlement of a hand loan of about Rs 20,000 between Gangi Reddy and another person.
The private settlement in an agricultural field had a violent aftermath and ignited faction rivalries between the two groups where the YSRC leader reportedly fired with his gun at Mr Vijayabhaskar Reddy and his group.
Mr Vijayabhaskar Reddy sustained bullet injuries on his thigh and hand while Ramanatha Reddy, Dhanunjaya Reddy and Gangi Reddy suffered injuries. They were immediately shifted to the Proddatur hospital.
Police sources said Mr Srinivasa Reddy did not have a weapons licence. “We are investigating the case from all angles including weapon licence”, a Kadapa police officer said.
Police has launched a manhunt to nab Mr Srinivasa Reddy who fled soon after the incident. A police picket was posted at Veerapalle.
