Two hired assassins killed in shootout

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, DEC. 4. Police shot dead two hired assassins, identified as Erukala Kistanna, 42, and Erukala Ramudu alias, Nabi Rasool, 40, near the All India Radio Station on the Kodumur highway on the outskirts of the town on Monday. A police team led by the Town Inspector, Mr. Sriramulu, an SI, and four constables had come across the duo when they were screening vehicles as part of routine inspection, police said.

When the police tried to overpower the two, they allegedly threw crude bombs and tried to open fire from a countrymade revolver, which reportedly did not function. Police fired nine rounds killing the two on the spot. A few unexploded bombs and hand bags used to carry them were found near the bodies which were lying by the side of the Highway.

Kistanna, a close follower of the former Chief Minister, Mr. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, was reportedly involved in over 30 murders. He figured as accused in eight cases involving 12 deaths including in the murder of former Pathikonda MLA, Mahabaleswara Gupta and the sensational Kappatralla murder. Kistanna, who hailed from Kappatralla village, but settled at Kodumur, was convicted to life in 1996 for murder of four persons in his native village.

Police said he was also involved in many unreported crimes including the murder of four persons at Chakrala village. The charges against him include theft of cattle and sheep in Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts and allegedly aided many hired gangs to eliminate political opponents. He was released from jail a few months ago following his acquittal in the High Court.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr. P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, who visited the scene of the encounter, told reporters that Kistanna was back in action since his release from the jail and allegedly instigated the rival gangs and masterminded the murder of Hemanthkumar of Brahmanadoddi village at Gudur recently. Four persons who were held in the Hemanthkumar murder case reportedly told the police that Kistanna had abetted the crime. Erukali Ramudu, who was shot dead along with Kistanna today was also a close follower of the latter and figured as accused in three cases involving six deaths.

The killing of Kistanna and Ramudu is likely to change faction equations in Western parts of Kurnool district. Kistanna was said to have been active in murder politics for the last 20 years and was responsible for many political killings. He was opposed to the non-Reddy group led by Mr. Kappatralla Venkatappaiah Naidu, who survived 14 attempts on his life. A hired assassin sheet was opened against Kistanna in 1986, but he was provided official security between 1989 and 1994.

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Section  : Southern States
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