The deaths of three Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers in a road accident on August 9 in Guntur turned out to be a political murder by rivals from YSR Congress, police said on Tuesday. Those accused in the murder have now been arrested.
The deceased, Gurajala Somaiah (30), Challa Venkata Krishna (26) and Medaboina Mallaiah (26), were on their way to the local police station on a two-wheeler when a car hit them from behind. The two-wheeler lost control and the trio were run over by a lorry, killing all of them.
During the course of the investigation, the Vinukonda police found that before the accident took place the trio had gotten into an argument with YSR Congress workers regarding the laying of a CC road in Andugula Kothapalem of Vinukonda mandal.
They were on their way to the local police station to report on the argument when they were murdered. The accused included four YSRC sympathisers and a TDP activist, too, police said to The New Indian Express.
The five accused, who have since then been arrested, have been identified as YSRC supporters Challa China Sambaiah, Yenuganti Ramakotaiah, Yenuganti Srinivasa Rao and Mandati Rama Rao, and TDP activist Poluri Yedukondalu, who had disputes with the deceased. The police have registered cases under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 120-b (criminal conspiracy).
“It was a murder planned and executed by political rivals of the deceased. The deceased were workers from the ruling TDP and had long-standing disputes with their rivals from the YSR Congress. On the day of the incident too, the two groups had clashed over certain local issues,” said the police to The New Indian Express.
Police said the YSRC activists were opposing the construction of the road and obstructed the works, which led to a clash between the two rival parties on the day of the said murder.
As the three men left the village for the police station, they were allegedly followed by five men in a car, police said. They were knocked over from behind by the men in the car when a lorry driver lost control of his vehicle and ran over the three men.