Andhra police to investigate pastor's 'suspicious' death

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha on Wednesday has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the suspicious death of Pastor Praveen Kumar Pagadala, which occurred in Konthamuru, Rajahmundry, within the East Godavari district.

Responding to mounting concerns from Christian organizations, the Home Minister agreed to conduct a video-recorded post-mortem examination of the 45-year-old evangelist, who was found dead on a roadside in Rajahmundry early Tuesday morning.

Local police initially reported the incident as an accident. However, Christian organizations swiftly challenged this assessment, organizing protests and demanding a thorough investigation. They argued that the circumstances surrounding Pastor Praveen's death were inherently suspicious and merited a comprehensive inquiry.

His follower said that Pastor Praveen attended a church programme in Kovvur on Monday night before departing for Rajahmundry on his Royal Enfield motorcycle. CCTV footage captured near a local toll gate showed him wearing a helmet and appearing normal.

The following morning, on March 25, his body was found alongside his motorcycle on the roadside at Kondamuru, near Rajahmundry. The mysterious nature of his death immediately raised serious concerns among his family and the Christian community.

Tensions escalated when his body was brought to the Government Hospital in Rajahmundry for autopsy. Relatives and Christian groups gathered to protest, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death.

The pastor's family and followers vehemently alleged that Praveen was murdered, with the crime deliberately staged to appear like an accident. They claimed there were no visible signs of a road accident at the location, the motorcycle showed no damage consistent with a collision, and his helmet remained completely intact, suggesting no impact.