Date:01/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/01/stories/2008010155140600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Former Chittoor MLA survives attack on life

Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI: Former Chittoor MLA C.K. Jayachandra Reddy, better known as C.K. Babu, has survived a second attempt on his life in less than a year. He narrowly escaped an attack on his Qualis van at Chittoor on Monday morning when assailants blew up the culvert with powerful explosives reportedly using a remote control. Sources quoting eye-witness accounts said that the intensity of the explosion was so high that the vehicle with seven on board flew up and crash-landed with a thud.

Though the former MLA, sitting in the backseat flanked by his gunmen escaped with injuries, one of his four gunmen who reportedly sustained multiple injuries succumbed to the wounds shortly after admission in the hospital. Besides Mr. Babu, there were four gunmen and a spare driver inside the vehicle when the assailants triggered the explosion while he was on his way to the Shirdi Sai temple as is his daily morning routine before starting his work. Unconfirmed reports said that the police have recovered from underneath the culvert an unexploded bomb. Police suspect that the miscreants activated the bomb using a remote control from a Vinayaka temple across the road; they have reportedly recovered from the scene a 30-ft long wire.

All the injured, including the former MLA, were rushed to the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore across the border in Tamil Nadu after initial treatment in the Chittoor Government General Hospital. Though Mr. Babu is said to be in a state of shock, he is declared out of danger. The condition of the three gunmen and the spare driver is also said to be stable. Two of Mr. Babu’s close aides coming on a motorcycle were also said to have been badly injured.

Mr. Babu is a three-time MLA of Chittoor — the last two as a Congress representative. He contested unsuccessfully as a Congress-backed independent candidate for the seat in the 2004 general elections.

YSR speaks to Babu

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has spoken to Mr. Babu over phone and enquired about his health.