The G. Madugula police have arrested four persons in connection with the murder of V. Pothuraju (45), a Girijan and a resident of Chinakilarthi village of G. Madugula mandal.
The accused allegedly beheaded Pothuraju on May 10 and later carried away his head. His torso was left at an isolated spot beside the road near the village, about 1 km from his house.
The accused were identified as V. Chinna Appalanaidu, Kora Someswara Rao, G. Paparao, and K. Bangar Padal.
They were residents of the same village and committed the crime in an inebriated condition.
Circle Inspector K. Srinivasa Rao said that Chinna Appalanaidu, the main accused, allegedly had an illicit relationship with the daughter-in-law of the deceased. As Pothuraju reprimanded him earlier, Appala Naidu nursed a grudge against him.
On May 10, when Pothuraju was returning to his village, the four confronted him. After a heated altercation, they beheaded him.
The police also recovered the head that the accused threw into the bushes, about 200 metres from the spot where the torso was found.
The incident created a sense of fear among the Girijans, as there was a rumour that it was committed by those engaged in black magic and sorcery, said Assistant Superintendent of Police, Paderu, A. Babujee.
