CPI, Congress leaders shot dead in separate incidents in Telangana

Hyderabad/Medak: A CPI and a Congress leader in Telangana were shot dead in two separate incidents by unidentified persons over the past 24 hours, in suspected cases of previous enmity, police said on Tuesday.

Unidentified assailants opened fire at K Chandu Naik (47), a state council member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), during his morning walk at Malakpet here on Tuesday resulting in his death on the spot, police said.

A previous enmity stemming out of a land dispute seems to be the reason behind the killing of Chandu Naik, police said citing preliminary information.

In the other incident, 29-year-old Congress leader, M Anil was shot dead by unidentified persons in Medak district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday night in Kulcharam mandal when the Medak District Congress SC Cell Secretary was travelling in a car.

The assailants trailed Anil in two cars and one of the vehicles later overtook and blocked his path. A man stepped down and opened fire at him, police said.

The accused fired four bullets at Anil resulting in his instantaneous death.

Asked about the motive behind the attack, the official citing preliminary inquiry, said the deceased was into real estate business. Rivalry and financial disputes are suspected to be the reason behind the incident.

On the attack on Naik, police said the assailants came in a car, opened fire on him while he was on a morning walk near a park at around 7.30 AM. After they shot multiple rounds, he died on the spot, a senior police official told PTI.

The accused then fled the scene.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East Zone) S Chaitanya Kumar, citing preliminary investigation, told reporters that at least three to four persons were involved in the firing targeting Naik.

Police recovered three fired rounds and two unfired rounds from the spot. Based on the recovery of these, it seems only one weapon was used in the firing. However, further investigation is on, the official added.

He said police were verifying the routes of the car in which the assailants came. CCTV footage in the area was also being analysed to identify the suspects.

The official further said an old rivalry is suspected to be the reason behind the attack.

"The (attack) seems to be over a land issue. He was having a disagreement with some people," police said.

Based on a complaint filed by Naik's wife, police registered a murder case.

The complainant stated that one person, (prime suspect) who was previously known to her husband was involved in his murder as there was enmity between them over the land issue.

She said the suspect was a close associate of the deceased earlier, but they parted ways following differences. The complainant told police that she could identify the person (prime suspect).

Ten teams were formed to investigate the murder and nab the accused, police said.

The slain Chandu Naik was an accused in a murder case, which was registered at L B Nagar Police Station here in 2022, police said.

No complaint was lodged by the victim regarding any threat to his life, they added.

CPI Telangana unit secretary and MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao condoled the death of Chandu Naik and demanded the arrest of the culprits without delay.

Chandu Naik's brother Jaipal said they have filed a complaint with police naming six people.

Jaipal said Chandu Naik had gone for a morning walk at around 7.30 AM when someone called him to discuss something.

When he reached there out of friendship, he was shot dead, he said.

"He (Chandu Naik) didn’t have any clue that this would happen. I have given the names of six people (in the complaint)," Jaipal told PTI Videos.

A party colleague of Chandu Naik told PTI Videos that a woman had called her last week, claiming that there was a threat to his life from certain individuals.

The caller had asked her to alert Chandu Naik about the threat, she said, adding that the deceased had subsequently informed the party office in Hyderabad about the matter.