Vizianagaram: Teacher murder case cracked, 4 held; police say political rivalry

Vizianagaram: Police have arrested four persons in the brutal murder of a government teacher in Vizianagaram.

Yegireddy Krishna Murthy popularly known as Krishna, 58, was murdered at Kothapeta village under Rajam town police station limits in the district on July 15.

The accused were identified as Maradana Mohan Rao, Reddy Ramu, Maradana Venkata Naidu, and Maradana Ramaswami. Police have launched a manhunt for one more accused Maradana Ganapathi. All the accused are natives of Uddavolu village.

A native of Uddavolu village under Therlam Mandal in the district, Krishna worked as a government teacher in Kallamrajupeta village. He was residing in Rajam town in Vizianagaram district.

Superintendent of Police, Vizianagaram, Deepika M told reporters that Maradana Venkata Naidu and his family members murdered Krishna to gain the upper hand in the politics in Uddavolu village.

Krishna played a crucial role in Uddavolu politics as a sympathizer of TDP for the past few years. His support to a TDP leader led to the defeat of Maradana Venkata Naidu in the Panchayat election in 2021.

Krishna also lodged a petition in AP High Court against the illegal constructions taken up by Naidu.

This led to the delay of the payment of bills resulting in a loss of Rs two crore to Venkata Naidu.

Venkata Naidu hatched a plan with his family members to eliminate Krishna. As a part of the plan, Venkata Naidu passed the information to his brother Maradana Mohan Rao that Krishna was heading towards Kallamrajupeta from Rajam on a bike.

Mohan Rao and Reddy Ramu, who were waiting in a Bolero Van followed Krishna and ran over him. Later they attacked him with iron rods as he was still alive even after the accident. They fled from the spot by abandoning the van, the SP added.

Police said a picket has been set up in the village.