Kidnap case: Cong. leader among 8 fake naxals held

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, MAY 5. A Congress(I) Mandal Committee secretary was among eight pseudo naxalites arrested on Friday by the Khammam police and secured the release of the correspondent of a private ITI, who was kidnapped from the town for ransom, according to the Superintendent of Police, Mr. Rajaratnam Naidu.

Addressing a news conference along with the Khammam Sub- Divisional Police Officer, Mr. K. Madhava Rao, here, he said that the police seized four country-made weapons, including two revolvers in the illegal possession of the gangsters along with an Ambassador car, used for kidnapping and transportation of weapons. A manhunt was launched for another member of the gang who managed to escape with a weapon.

The Superintendent of Police said that the Karepalli mandal committee secretary of Congress(I), Mr. Satakoti Pitchaiah, and Mr. Vadakapu Narayana had acquired the weapons to execute their plan for killing two TDP leaders - Mr. Kilaru Krishnaiah and Mr. Chidambar Rao - because of political rivalries. As they could not execute the plan on time because of the general election and subsequent developments in the area, they took to extortions.

Mr. Daripalli Anantaramulu, who was running an industrial training institute on the outskirts of the town, was chosen to try out their plan. They took the help of Mogilicherla Tulasidas of Mahabubabad and six others and kidnapped the correspondent and his son to Mutcherla hills. They initially demanded Rs. 5 lakhs for their release but ultimately agreed to set them free for Rs. 2 lakhs.

As the gangsters were collecting the money the police apprehended three of the accused near the NTR statue on the Yellandu road. The police party immediately went to Mutcherla and raided the house of Pitchaiah and seized the weapons. The accused will be remanded to judicial custody on Saturday.

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Section  : Regional
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