Hyderabad: Hours after Telangana Praja Front state president Akula Bhumaiah was killed in a road accident at Nallakunta, his daughter A. Sunitha, on Wednesday approached police alleging that her father was murdered by his political rivals, who had planned the accident.
Nallakunta police has booked a case of murder following the complaint. Cops have taken the truck driver, Chennaiah, into custody, and are interrogating him. However, police said initial investigations do not point to a murder.
Sunita, an advocate, alleged that the death of her father was suspicious. “We saw the scene of the offence, and the entire accident looks pre-planned and executed with the help of hired killers. My father had rivals, and they must be behind the act,” she alleged.
Nallakunta police inspector V. Jaipal Reddy said that a case under IPC 302 for murder has been booked. “We have started an investigation into the incident. The truck driver, Chennaiah is a contract employee. We are collecting more information about him and the mishap,” he said.
The family of Akula Bhumaiah suspect that those against separate Telangana, a cause passionately espoused by Bhumaiah, could have engineered the accident.
Akula Bhumaiah was returning home on his bike after attending a programme, when he was hit by a GHMC truck at Nallakunta a few kilometres away from his home, on Tuesday night. He died of his injuries before he could get any medical help.
Born in Khajapur village of Pedddapalli mandal in Karimnagar district, Akula Bhumaiah started his career as a school teacher and became an active member of the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Fede-ration.
He led agitations for the rights of the teaching community and played a vital role in the formation of the Democratic Teachers Front and Telangana Jana Sabha. He was actively involved in the statehood struggle. He became president of the TPF a few years ago. He was 60 years old.
