YSRCP youth leader hacked to death on busy main road in Andhra town

Police said a dispute related to a real estate deal was behind the killing. Police are searching for the accused, who is on the run.

A purported video of the assault has been doing the rounds on social media. The assault lasted for nearly five minutes on the busy road by the Mandlamandi bus station in full view of dozens of people. Jilani, who appeared to be inebriated, kept attacking Rashid with the sickle even after he fell to the floor in a semi-conscious state.

By the time police reached the spot, the accused had fled. They took Rashid to hospital, where he was declared dead.

YSRCP leader Sajjala Bharghava Reddy claimed that the accused, Jilani, is a member of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and that the murder was the result of political rivalry.

However, Palnadu Superintendent of Police (SP) K Srinivasa Rao ruled out political rivalry. “They knew each other and had a fallout over some personal issues. We have started a thorough investigation,” the SP said. Officers at Vinukonda police station said the duo had a tiff over a failed real estate deal.

With tensions running high in Vinukonda town, police have beefed up security. Palnadu had witnessed post-poll violence in April and May as TDP and YSRCP workers attacked each other.