Hyderabad: Is the ruling Telugu Desam trying to push the political and faction angle in the attack of Chittoor mayor K. Anuradha and her husband Mr K. Mohan?
Will Mr C.K. Babu alias Jayachandra Reddy of YSR Congress, the strong opposition leader of Chittoor district, which is the home turf of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, be implicated in the case to settle political scores?
YSR Congress leaders are suspecting that the ruling TD may influence the police in the probe to ensure that the Opposition leaders are dragged into the conspiracy.
YSRC leader Mr Ambati Rambabu said, “CM Naidu said there is a political motive behind the murder. To cover up its failure on the law and order front, the government is trying to get in the political angle. Since Naidu came to power, the police has been foisting false cases ag-ainst Opposition party leaders and arresting them. Instead of maintaining law and order, the government is trying to use police force for political manipulations.”
The YSR Congess leader added, “It has been learnt that police cases were also booked regarding disputes between Chintu and the mayor’s family. Even mayor Anurdha had sought police protection from higher officials. Why was she not given the security? Why were CCTV cameras not working at the corporation office?
What is the Intelligence department and police agencies doing?" Top police officials are suspecting that the surrender of three out of the five killers is an attempt to mislead the investigation.
“Why has C.K. Babu been quiet for 18 months after the TD came to power?" wondered a police official.
In 2003, Mr C.K. Babu, then a Congress MLA, had been arrested for the abduction and murder of a TD leader’s son. The victim was allegedly burnt to death by Mr Babu and his aides over a tiff. However, Mr Babu had alleged that he had been arrested as part of a conspiracy by minister B. Gopalakrishna Reddy and other TD leaders to damage his reputation. Later in 2008 Mr Katari Mohan too had denied his involvement in the attempted murder of Mr C.K. Babu.
Will probe from all angles, says DGP
While the clues so far are pointing at family and financial disputes behind the attack on Chittoor Mayor Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan, police wants to also probe the possible role of former MLA C.K. Babu alias Jayachandra Reddy of the YSR Congress.
Cops are probing whe-ther Mr Mohan’s nephew, Mr Chintu, was won over by Mr Babu to eliminate the mayor and her husband. Mr Mohan’s family have had rivalries with Mr Babu for several years and there had been attempts made on each other’s life earlier.
Mr Mohan is accused in two attempt to murder cases against Mr Babu, his political rival. Meanwhile Mr Chintu is accused in three cases, including attempting to murder on Mr Babu.
Police, meanwhile, said that Mr Babu is involved in at least 27 cases inclu-ding murder, rioting, arson, illegal possession of arms and under the Explosive Substances Act. His criminal history dates back to 1979.
DGP J.V. Ramudu told the media that all angles in the case were being probed, including the ri-valry between the may-or’s family and Mr Babu.
In the municipal election in 2004, Mr Mohan had been defeated by Mr Babu’s aide. The celebration procession had been taken in front of Mr Mohan's residence and supporters of the two families had got into a fight. That was the start of the enmity between the two families.
An investigation official said, “Old rivalry could be one reason. The other reason might be that the couple could had developed enmity among relatives. We have not reached any conclusion and the investigation is at a nascent stage.”
Mr Mohan had attacked Mr Babu once at the Recreation Club, and had even planted a bomb under a bridge near Mr Babu’s house to kill him. The latter had a narrow escape.
Meanwhile, Mr Babu had also tried to kill Mr Mohan but he had escaped and fled to Karnataka for a few months. Later, he returned to Chittoor town and made his wife mayor to garner political support.
Financial disputes lead to murder
The confession of the surrendered killers and police investigation has so far revealed that financial disputes within the family of the Chittoor mayor may have led to the attack on her and her husband.
The prime accused Chintu alias Chandrase-khar, who is now absco-nding, had disputes over mining operations, domination over market yards and municipal contract issues for the past few months.
A former marine engineer, Chandrasekhar alias Chintu, the maternal nephew of Mr K. Mohan, conspired the attack on Anuradha and her husband along with former Karnataka State RTC employee Venkata Chalapati of Karnataka.
.32 caliber revolvers used
Director general of police J.V. Ramudu said, “The assailants used .32 caliber revolvers and an-other country-made fire-arm and knives. At the scene of offence we fou-nd the two revolvers and a knife. Two of the five killers have surrendered to the police and the others are absconding.”
Police has identified the five assailants as Mohan’s nephew Chintu alias Chandrasekhar, Ve-nkata Chalapati, Manju, Venkatesh and Reddappa alias Jayaprakash. Venkata Chalapati and Manju have surrendered before the police. Unconfirmed reports said that one of the three absconding had also surrendered in court.
Additional DG (law and order) R.P. Thakur said, “The assailants had conducted a reconnaissance before the attack. They did not strike when Mohan was alone in front of the party office. They wanted to eliminate both wife and husband and thus attacked at the office when they were together.”
The Chittoor Corpor-ation office is situated near the RTC bus station under the Chittoor One Town police station limits, which is generally crowded.
Anuradha, who was shot in the eye and chest, died on the spot. The two were first shifted to the Chittoor Government Hospital where doctors declared Anuradha brought dead. For better treatment, Mr Mohan was shifted to Vellore.
According to the Chittoor SP Srinivas, Mohan was shot in his throat and in his stomach, which penetrated his kidney. The doctors declared Mohan dead at 9. 15 pm . Ministers Bojjala Gopala Krishana Reddy, Pathi Pulla Rao along with home minister China Rajappa went to CMC Vellore to receive Mohan’s body. After learning about Mohan’s death, Chittoor TDP activists and leaders declared a bandh on Wednesday in the district.
Anuradha refused to have gunman
Investigation agencies wonder why Anuradha, who had rejected a gunman when offered by the police, become the target of killers? The other big puzzle before the police is whether she was killed by assailants while trying to shield her husband Mr K. Mohan during the attack or whet-her she was also a target. A top AP police official said, “She refused to take a gunman when we asked her.”
Usually for mayors, gunmen are provided on request after conducting a security review unlike for minister who gets it by default.”
Anuradha has got several stab injuries, this shows that she was also a target." Forty-year-old Anuradha suffered injuries in her left eye, forehead and chest. She had arrived at her chambers at around 10.30 am and the murder took place around noon.
Interestingly, several TD leaders including corporators, who were present at the scene couldn’t stop the assailants as they brandished weapons. The mayor’s office doesn’t have any security.
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