Tension prevailed in Vemavaram village in Prakasam district after two TDP supporters were killed and four others injured after another TDP faction allegedly attacked them.
The incident took place at around midnight on Friday, but came to light on Saturday when Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLC Karanam Balarama Krishna alleged that his party rival and Addanki MLA, Gottipati Ravi Kumar, was responsible for the attack.
On Friday night, the victims – supporters of Balarama Krishna – were returning home after attending a marriage, when attackers threw chilli powder in their faces and attacked them with sticks and knives.
"Two of the six died on the way to a hospital in Chilakaluripeta, while the remaining four are undergoing treatment," a police official told The New Indian Express.
The deceased have been identified as G Anjaiah and Rama Koteswara Rao.
"Some people, who defected from the YSR Congress to the TDP to protect their properties and make money, have indulged in this gory act. They are bent on eliminating the TDP cadre in an organised manner," MLC Balarama alleged following the incident.
MLA Ravi Kumar, however, denied all allegations and condemned Balarama Krishna for making them. "I am against such violent politics. I am only trying to sail together with everyone. It's not proper for Balarama to make such allegations against me," Ravi Kumar told TNIE.
Soon after the incident, Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reportedly directed the Director General of Police, N Sambasiva Rao, to investigate the matter. The police have registered cases against 17 people, including the three main accused in the incident.
The police also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the village and Prakasam district Superintendent of Police Trivikram Varma camped in the village control the tensed situation after the incident.
According to Deccan Chronicle, the main accused in the murder have been identified as Malempati Venkateswarlu, Gottipati Maruthi and Malempati Chinnodu.
“We will not spare whoever is involved in the case even if they are affluent and influential. A comprehensive investigation is on to check all angles including financial and political,” Guntur range IG Sanjay told DC.