Nalgonda Congress leader B Srinivas, husband of Nalgonda municipal chairperson B Lakshmi, was murdered by some unknown persons late on Wednesday.

B Srinivas was a close aide of Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. 

He was found dead near his house in a drain in Savarkarnagar, Nalgonda.

Srinivas had allegedly received death threats in the past from the gang of slain extortioner Nayeem.

According to reports, Srinivas received a phone call about a fight near his house. Srinivas stepped out of his home to intervene. However, the gang who were fighting turned against him and killed him.

Police suspect that a clash took place between him and a group of four to five persons during which he fell in the drain and the attackers then crushed him to death with a boulder.

Police have detained a few suspects and are questioning them.

The murder of Srinivas has triggered tension in the region. 

Terming it as a political murder by leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and other Congress leaders staged a sit-in. 

Venkat Reddy told Tv5, “Police should access call records of Srinivas in the past one year and find out who all threatened him, and who were behind this killing and punish them.”

The Congress has also called for a shutdown in the town. 

Police have tightened security to prevent any violence.

State Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy blamed the TRS government for the murder. 

He demanded that the police conduct an impartial probe and arrest the guilty immediately.

Police refused to divulge details of the suspects. 

Speaking to TNM, Nalgonda CI N Venkateshwarulu said that the investigation is underway. “We have taken a few suspects into custody. The investigation is going on.”

With inputs from IANS