Suraram reels as twin murders trigger tension
MEDAK: A finance-related dispute and a personal rivalry between two friends escalated into a chain of killings, leaving two families devastated and triggering tension in Suraram village of Medak district.
According to Toopran Deputy Superintendent of Police J. Narender Goud, Yata Sridhar, 25, and Ranaboyina Prabhakar, both residents of Suraram in Chinnashankarampet mandal, had jointly purchased an auto-rickshaw through finance. Differences over loan instalment payments had led to disputes between them for some time.
The two had also exchanged allegations against each other through social media posts. The conflict intensified after Prabhakar, who is married, entered into a love marriage with a young woman related to Sridhar.
Auto-rickshaw used in alleged attack
Police said Prabhakar learnt on Monday evening that Sridhar was travelling on a motorcycle with another youth to visit relatives in Ananthasagar village in Chegunta mandal. Prabhakar and his associates allegedly intercepted the motorcycle near Ananthasagar in an auto-rickshaw and rammed it.
After Sridhar fell onto the road, the attackers allegedly ran him over with the auto-rickshaw and assaulted him, resulting in his death. They then fled the scene.
Retaliatory killing shocks village
Enraged by Sridhar’s death, his family members allegedly went to Prabhakar’s house. Finding no one there, they began searching for his relatives.
Later on Monday night, Prabhakar’s father, Yadagiri, 50, was found in Toopran. He was allegedly attacked and killed by members of the rival group. His body was later dumped in the Haldi stream near Hakimpet on the outskirts of Masaipet mandal.
Police recovered Yadagiri’s body early on Tuesday morning and shifted it to the Narsapur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The two murders involving residents of the same village on the same day created panic among villagers. Police have set up pickets in Suraram and are monitoring the law-and-order situation.
Special teams have been formed to trace all those involved in the killings. Police have reportedly taken Prabhakar, considered the prime accused in Sridhar’s murder, and several others into custody for questioning.
