Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Killers will be severely punished, says Jana

HYDERABAD: Home Minister K. Jana Reddy said that persons involved in the killing of Venkatappa Naidu and his eight followers in Kurnool district on Saturday would be severely punished, irrespective of their party or group affiliations, if their complicity was established.

He told media persons here that the police were investigating whether the deaths occurred on account of a road accident or attack by the rival faction. The government would initiate serious action if the cause was found to be faction rivalry. According to preliminary information, however, the incident appeared to be due to an accident, he said.

Mr. Reddy expressed confidence that the mystery would be unravelled once the absconding lorry driver was arrested. He said he was anguished that factionalism, which was well under control in Kurnool for the last four years, had again raised its ugly head in the past few days. It resumed with the murder of a Congress activist Ranganna a week ago.

Replying to criticism by Telugu Desam that the government had failed to provide security to Venkatappa Naidu though he was on the hit list, Mr. Reddy said the gunmen of Naidu were actually withdrawn two years ago when his threat perception was scaled down. Thereafter, Naidu requested him to restore his security as he feared threat to his life. He (the Minister) took the initiative and arranged two Personal Security Officers.

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