Chandole police have arrested two persons who allegedly demanded ransom from a trader, A. Anjaneyulu, and opened fire at his house at Alluru village in Pittlavanipalem mandal near Bapatla, a couple of days ago.
A country-made gun and 19 bullets have been recovered from the accused.
Disclosing this to the newsmen here on Friday, Guntur Rural District Superintendent of Police J. Satyanarayana said the police nabbed B. Narasimha Murthy and A. Chandrashekara Reddy, both of them natives of Alluru village of Pittalavanipalem mandal in the district. Murthy was a deserted army man, while Reddy was an auto driver.
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The SP said the accused developed contacts with a person from Uttar Pradesh, who had settled in Guntur district and purchased the weapon for Rs.30,000 to extort money from businessmen.
The man has been identified and two police teams have been sent to Uttar Pradesh to nab him.
The accused threatened Anjaneyulu over phone and demanded him to give away Rs.15 lakh on October 28. When the trader refused to budge, the duo opened fire at the door in the night and escaped, said the SP.
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Murthy and his accomplice, Reddy used nine SIM cards to call Mr. Anjaneyulu.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had planned to procure one more weapon and commit more offences.
Police are probing in various angles, including the ease with which the accused managed to get several SIM cards. Remaining accused in the case would be apprehended soon, said Mr. Satyanarayana.
Bapatla Deputy Superintendent of Police A. Bhaskar said that cases have been registered against the accused under Section 27 of Indian Arms Act, Sec. 506 and 384 read with 511 of IPC.