Andhra Pradesh: 2 Groups Clash Over Girl, 11 Taken Into Custody

According to police, Lokeshwar Reddy and Sai Pratap Reddy, both engineering students, were reportedly close to the same girl. Lokeshwar Reddy allegedly confronted Sai Pratap Reddy over his association with the girl, triggering tensions between the two groups. The dispute later escalated when members of Lokeshwar Reddy’s group allegedly attacked Sai Pratap Reddy.

On Saturday, Sai Pratap Reddy and his associates reportedly learnt that Lokeshwar Reddy was at a bar in Proddatur. They allegedly went there and attacked him, leading to a clash between the two groups. The students allegedly used beer bottles and sticks to attack each other, leaving several injured and causing panic among customers and staff at the bar.

On receiving information, Proddatur police reached the spot and dispersed the two groups. Police subsequently launched an inquiry into the incident and took 11 students into custody. Police said efforts were underway to apprehend two more accused allegedly involved in the clash.

All those involved in the incident are reportedly students pursuing engineering courses at different colleges in Proddatur.

Meanwhile, the parents of some of the students have reportedly approached the police, requesting them not to register cases against their sons, fearing that criminal cases could adversely affect their academic careers and future employment prospects.

Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to ascertain the exact sequence of events and the role played by each student in the clash.

Man hacks brother to death over dispute

A man allegedly hacked his elder brother to death with an axe following a dispute at Brahmamgarimatham in YSR Kadapa district on Sunday morning.

The deceased was identified as Vajrala Venkatasubbaiah, while the accused was his younger brother, Vajrala Suresh. The two were residents of an area near the Rajaka Annadana Satram at the Brahmamgarimatham mandal headquarters.

According to police, the brothers were reportedly addicted to alcohol and had separated from their respective wives. They had been living with their parents, Subbarayudu and Haimavathi.

On Saturday night, Suresh, who works as a proclaimer operator, reportedly brought home chicken pakoda. Venkatasubbaiah questioned him about bringing chicken pakoda home on a Saturday, following which an argument broke out between them. Though their mother intervened and pacified them, Suresh allegedly attacked Venkatasubbaiah with an axe on Sunday morning while he was lying on a cot at home, killing him on the spot. Police registered a case and launched a hunt for Suresh.

Two abduct taxi aggregator driver, demand ₹2 lakh ransom in Nandyal

Two unidentified men allegedly abducted and assaulted a taxi aggregator driver before demanding `2 lakh as ransom in Nandyal on Saturday night, triggering panic in the town.

According to the police complaint, Manoj Kumar, who works at a medical shop at Gandhi Chowk and also drives for a taxi aggregator part-time, picked up two unidentified men on his bike from the Gandhi Chowk area on Saturday night.

At around 9 pm, the passengers allegedly asked him to take them to Nandyal Public School on the outskirts of the town. After reaching the location, the two men reportedly dragged Manoj into nearby bushes and assaulted him.

The assailants allegedly threatened him and forced him to arrange `2 lakh by making calls from his mobile phone. Fearing for his life, Manoj contacted three friends and sought financial help, but they reportedly said they could not arrange the amount.

The suspects allegedly assaulted Manoj again, removed the SIM card from his mobile phone and fled.

Manoj later managed to reach the police and lodged a complaint. Nandyal police registered a case and launched an investigation to identify and trace the suspects. Police are also examining possible leads to establish the motive behind the abduction and ransom demand.

Eight held in gambling raids in Guntur district

The Guntur district police Task Force, along with Special Branch personnel, raided two alleged gambling spots at Thalluru village under Firangipuram police station limits on Sunday and detained eight persons.

Acting on information about gambling in the village, the joint team conducted the raids at around 12.40 pm at two locations — near an old rice mill and under roadside trees near the YSR statue.

Police seized seven mobile phones, four two-wheelers and `2,410 in cash from the two spots. Of the cash, ₹2,070 was recovered at one location and`340 at the other.

The eight detained persons and the seized items were handed over to Firangipuram police for further investigation and legal action, police said.