Few unidentified people, suspected to be gang members of renegade naxal Nayeem, shot dead a former Maoist-turned TRS leader Konapuri Ramulu (40), while he was attending a wedding at a local function hall in Nalgonda, about 120 km from here on Sunday.
The incident occurred a few minutes after TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao left the venue after blessing the couple at the marriage function hall.
According to the police, the assailants first threw chilli powder and opened three rounds of fire killing the TRS leader on the spot. Two gunmen of Ramulu later told the police that they could not retaliate as the function hall was full of guests.
Ramulu had earlier escaped several attempts on his life including the one at Chaitanyapuri while he was on his morning walk. “He had been urging the police for protection but help never came,” relatives of Ramulu rued.
Published 11 May 2014, 20:30 IST