Nalgonda, April 06: It was former Naxal Nayeemuddin who wrote the ‘script’ for the murder of TRS politburo member and former Maoist leader K Ilaiah alias Sambasivudu, who was done to death in Nalgonda district on March 26. Land settlements and the increasing clout of Sambasivudu in political circles was the motive, police said.
The district police today arrested five persons involved in the killing of Sambasivudu while Nayeemuddin, who has been named as the prime accused is, absconding. Police said a total of 12 persons were involved in the conspiracy to kill the TRS leader and 10 of them took part in the offence directly.
Sambasivudu was killed on March 26 when he was returning after attending Telangana Dhoom Dham in Sangem village of the district.
District superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar said the arrested include Ch Suresh, Ch Amar, G Rakesh, D Srikanth and M Sridhar Goud, all hailing from Nalgonda and Hyderabad. “Suresh, an associate of Nayeem, bore a grudge against Sambasivudu and sought the help of Nayeem to kill the TRS leader. Nayeem, in turn, asked Suresh to execute the killing with the help of his associates and offered help,’’ Rajesh Kumar said. Suresh claimed that his family was being harassed by former Maoists, who had Sambasivudu’s support.
As per their plan, Nayeem sent `1.90 lakh as advance to Suresh through Raheem, who is said to be a resident of Nalgonda district.
“Suresh took the help of his nine friends and gave them an advance of `10,000 each to execute the killing. They were reportedly not told whom they are going to attack but were asked to help him (Suresh) in a land settlement,’’ the SP said.
The attackers were tracking down the movements of Sambasivudu since then and followed him when the deceased attended a Dhoom Dham in L B Nagar. “On March 1, when Sambasivudu took part in a rail roko protest organised by the TJAC, the accused conducted a recee to attack him but they could not as there were large
number of people,’’ Rajesh Kumar said.
On the day of killing, Suresh and another accused, N Ravi, followed Sambasivudu on a two-wheeler.
“As Sambasivudu’s vehicle was reaching Gokaram village, they alerted the others who intercepted the vehicle and attacked him,’’ the SP said.
Police said the killers purchased lethal weapons from Doodh Bowli in the city and consumed alcohol at Hayathnagar on the day. They later threw away the weapons in Hayathnagar lake and fled.
Police said Nayeemuddin bore a grudge against Sambasivudu as he was involving in land settlements and his clout is increasing in political circles.
–Agencies