Andhra Pradesh

TDP activist axed to death in Proddatur

KADAPA: A Telugu Desam Party activist Santhudu was axed to death by rivals in Parlapadu village in Rajupalem mandal in Proddatur constituency on Wednesday.

The Dalit was done to death when he was taking drinking water from a tap to his house. Differences between Santhudu and a Congress activist Daniel, who clashed during local body elections could have led to be the murder, said the police. Santhudu had recently sought police protection fearing threat to his life.

DSP S.M. Basha, circle inspector C. Dora and sub-inspector Sadasivaiah rushed to Parlapadu and posted a police picket to avert any retaliatory attack. As Santhudu’s kin refused to permit shifting of the body for post-mortem until TDP leader M. Linga Reddy visited, the leader went to the village and criticised the police for failing to give protection to Santhudu.

Mr. Linga Reddy spoke to Kadapa SP D.S. Chauhan over phone and the latter assured to bring the accused to book. On his persuasion, the body was shifted to Proddatur Government Hospital for post-mortem.

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