The police issued an alert with a ‘revenge’ killer, Somaroutu Venkata Nageswara Rao alias Raja, currently at large, claiming that he has one more target to eliminate in the district.
Raja is the prime suspect in the murder of Tirumalasetti Suryachandra Rao (67). He allegedly killed Rao and dismembered his body parts at Srikakulam village in Ghantasala mandal on Sunday. During investigation, the police unearthed the criminal antecedents of Raja who was found to be involved in a similar murder three years ago.
The rivalry, according to police, dates back to 1991 when Suramsetti Nageswara Rao and his brother S. Murali killed Raja’s uncle in Guntur district over some dispute. As there was a threat to Raja’s family, the elders shifted them to Srikakulam village. In 2011, Raja beheaded Murali at Mutkupalli village in Guntur district. He chopped the head and hung it from a tree. Later, he came out on bail while the case was under trial. The Nizampatnam police had opened a rowdy sheet against the accused.
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The accused reportedly told the villagers that he would kill Suryachandra Rao claiming that the latter was responsible for his grandfather Sambasiva Rao’s murder. He laid a trap and killed Suryachandra Rao on Sunday and escaped.
The accused also said that he would not spare Suramsetti Nageswara Rao, another accused in his uncle’s murder in 1991. With Raja’s open threat, the police have cautioned Mr. Rao to be alert.
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Avanigadda DSP K. Hari Rajendra Babu, who is monitoring the investigation, told The Hindu that they had formed special teams and were making all efforts to nab Raja.
“We are trying to arrest the accused as soon as possible. Raja switched off his mobile phone soon after he committed the murder on Sunday. Police are questioning his friends,” said the DSP.