The Nellore district police arrested four autorickshaw drivers on charges of conspiring and murdering another auto driver Vellimalai Bhuminathan following professional rivalry here on Friday.
The four accused were taken into custody when they were coming from Sangam area to reach Nellore city. They were identified as Tammineni Bhasker, resident of Kothur, Syed Asif, belonging to Chandrababu Nagar, Sk. Khader Basha, resident of Tailors Colony and Sk. Rafi, resident of Surayapalem village.
SP Vishal Gunni said that all the four accused were targeted Bhuminathan after the latter ignored their warnings over running of his autorickshaw in certain routes. They developed a grouse against the him and hatched a plan to eliminate him.
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On March 26 evening, the accused abducted Bhuminathan in their auto from Talpagiri Colony under the Nellore 5 Town police station limits.
They drove the auto towards Sarvepalli reservoir. On the way, they attacked him with iron rods causing bleeding head injuries that led to his death.
They left the body near Anikepalli at Sarvepalli reservoir and escape from the scene in their auto.
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After morning walkers gave information to the police, it was found that Bhuminathan was murdered by his rivals.
A steel rod, two cell phones and an autorickshaw were seized from the assailants, Mr. Vishal said.