Khammam: The lenient attitude of the police towards two accused in the Krishnaiah murder case was exposed as the duo surrendered before the court of second additional judicial first class magistrate in Khammam on Friday.
Ninth accused Tammineni Koteswararao and tenth accused Yallampally Nagaiah showed up at the court. While the murder took place on August 15 and seven accused surrendered before the police on August 19, Koteswara and Nagaiah had run away. Koteswara is the brother of CPIM state secretary Veerabhadram.
There were allegations that the police were not keen on arresting the two accused because of political pressure from higher levels. Sources said the police knew about the whereabouts of the two, but looked the other way on instructions from higher officials. Political observers linked this to the CPIM’s support to the TRS in the Munugode by-poll.
The two who surrendered before court have reportedly stayed in Vijayawada, Nagpur and Vizag for the last 18 days and came to Khammam to surrender themselves before court.
The murder the took place in Teldarpalli has caused huge embarrassment to both the TRS and CPI-M. CPI-M leader Veerabhadram was scheduled to visit Teldarpalli on September 1. TRS leaders led by Krishnaiah’s son Naveen had warned that they will not allow Veerabhadram to the village until the two accused were arrested. Veerabhadram cancelled his Teldarpalli visit on the advice of the police, in view of the prevailing tense situation in the village.
TRS leaders in Khammam briefed the party high command about the murder and arrests. Following this, the two accused were asked by the CPI-M state leadership to surrender before court as early as possible.
A TRS leader admitted, “It is awkward to both the ruling party and the CPI-M to have brought the situation to such a pass in Teldarpalli when these two parties decided to have an alliance not only in Munugode but also in the coming assembly elections.”
