Date:10/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/10/stories/2006111003970600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Naxals gun down Congress leader in A.P.

Staff Reporter

Seetarama Rao was Kothagudem MLA's brother-in-law

KHAMMAM: CPI (Maoist) naxalites shot dead Congress leader Sreemanthula Seetarama Rao, 55, at Marrugudem village of Kunavaram mandal on Thursday. He is the mandal parishad president as well as the brother-in-law of Kothagudem MLA Vanama Venkateswar Rao.

Superintendent of Police Rajiv Kumar Meena has said that Seetarama Rao was shot from close range right in front of his house. The Maoists were probably waiting for him, he said.

The police said that Mr. Seetarama Rao did not receive any kind of threats from the naxalite groups so far.

Special police parties took up combing operations in the area.