Chittoor Mayor K Anuradha shot dead in Andhra Pradesh, husband critical
Tirupati: Chittoor Mayor Ms Katari Anuradha succumbed to her injuries after being shot at in the premises of the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office on Tuesday. Five attackers have been identified, of which two have surrendered and three are absconding.
Before escaping from the spot, the assailants went into an adjoining room where Anuradha's husband K Mohan, also senior TDP leader, was sitting and apparently shot at him before stabbing him, Andhra Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) R P Thakur said.
Anuradha's husband has been shifted shifted to the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore in Tamil Nadu. His condition is stated to be critical.
According to an eyewitness account, four persons wearing burkha gained entry into the chamber on the pretext of submitting their grievances and opened fire on the Mayor soon after entering and attacked her husband with knives.
R P Thakur, said both were fired at and attacked by knives. “The attackers first opened fire at the couple, before stabbing them. We are trying to find the motive behind the attack,” he said.
Unidentified assailants walked into the municipal corporation office and carried out the attack. Chittoor is the home district of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Anuradha is from the ruling Telugu Desam Party.
Preliminary investigations by police revealed the attackers are suspected to be from Karnataka.
"As per preliminary information, the attack was carried out following a family dispute. An investigation has been launched and the truth will be revealed soon. The attackers belong to Karnataka and a hunt has been launched to nab them. We will catch them very soon," he said.
A pistol and a knife have been recovered from the spot, the DIG added.
Chandrababu Naidu condemned the attack, saying whoever was behind the murder will be punished.
