Vijayawada: Eight men were arrested in connection with the murder of Telugu Desam leader Thota Chandraiah in Gundlapadu village of Guntur district. The accused were identified as Chinta Siva Ramaiah, Chinta Yalamanda Kotaiah, Sani Raghu Ramaiah, Sani Ramakoteswara Rao, Chinta Srinivasa Rao, Thota Anjaneyulu, Thota Siva Narayana and Chinta Adinarayana of Gundlapadu village.
Guntur Rural SP Vishal Gunni told media persons that Chandraiah was returning home from the market on a two-wheeler around 7am on Thursday when he was attacked by Sivaramaiah and seven others with stones and knives, leading to his death on the spot.
Based on preliminary investigation, Chandraiah had a personal dispute with Sivaramaiah over the construction of a cement road previously. When the latter’s relatives told him that Chandraiah was conspiring to murder him, the accused, anticipating trouble, waylaid the victim along with seven others and attacked him, leading to his death.
Police officials visited the spot, gathered evidence and restored normalcy in the village.
Guntur Rural SP formed four special teams to nab the culprits and accordingly, all the accused were arrested early on Friday from their hideout in Nagarjunasagar limits and seized blood stained clothes and weapons.
The SP stated that there would be zero tolerance towards such incidents that breach law and order in the district and vowed to bring the culprits to justice irrespective of their political affiliation. He warned of stern action against those trying to disrupt peace.
