By IANS,
Hyderabad : Factional violence in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region again raised its ugly head as two leaders of ruling Congress party and the main opposition Telugu Desam party were hacked to death by their rivals Friday in Tadipatri in Anantapur district.
Tension prevailed in the town as two leaders were killed on the streets in a span of three hours Friday morning. Police have intensified patrolling in the town.
Congress leader Obul Reddy was attacked by some unidentified assailants on the main road in the town. A profusely bleeding Reddy was rushed to a local hospital, where he later succumbed, a police officer said.
Obul Reddy had served as ‘sarpanch’ or head of a village and had long running feud with Subba Reddy.
Earlier, a TDP leader was hacked to death by unidentified people in the town. K. Rangaiah, also a former sarpanch, died on the spot after he was attacked with sickles and other sharp-edged weapons. Rangaiah had recently quit Congress party to join TDP.
Police said they were investigating if the two incidents were related.
Rayalaseema region, comprising four districts including Anantapur, has a long history of factional violence. Factions backed by political parties are engaged in bloody battle for supremacy.
The backward and drought-prone region is notorious for the merciless manner in which factions eliminate their rivals. More than 500 people were killed in factional violence in the last 15 years.