Murder case: Payakaraopeta former MLA, 20 others get life imprisonment
Visakhapatnam: Former MLA of Payakaraopeta, Chengala Venkata Rao, is among 21 sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by the Tenth Additional District Session Judge, B.B. Nageswara Rao at Anakapalle in Vizag district on Wednesday in a murder case.
The police said that they have registered a case against Chengala Venkata Rao and 24 others on charges of rioting and murder in connection with the death of a fisherman, Gosala Konda, and causing grievous injuries to eight others from Bangarammapeta area under Nakkapalle mandal in 2007.
Villagers of Bangara-mmapeta are divided over the establishment of a beach sand mining unit. On October 18, 2007, a group supporting the unit clashed with another that was opposed to the activity in the village. The scene turned riotous after Venkata Rao, who was MLA at that time and Congress party was in power. His henchmen reached the village to take part in the violence. The MLA was supporting the group that opposed the beach sand mining.
The MLA and his followers destroyed property and damaged vehicles belonging to the other group. a village elder of Bangara-mmapeta, Gosala Konda died in the violence while over a dozen persons were injured. Eight suffered serious injuries. Based on a complaint by the victims, the Nakkapalle and Payakaraopeta police led by the then inspector of Payakaraopeta P. Rajendra registered a case against the MLA and 23 others.
Additional Public Prosecutor of the court K.P. Naidu told newsmen that among the 24 handed over the sentence, three, K. Appalaraju, K. Demudu and Baburao, have died during the course of the 10-year-old trial period. Three are women. Apart from the life term, six including Chengala Venkata Rao, will have to undergo one year rigorous imprisonment (RI). Sources said that Chengala Venkata Rao, who is a leader of YSRC in Payakaraopeta region, is planning to challenge the verdict in the Hyderabad High Court.
