Kakinada, July 14: The police have on Monday arrested six persons who have allegedly murdered a couple Kanumuri Krishnam Raju (70) and Sarojini (65) at Tetagunta village in Tuni mandal in October last. All the accused – G. Govinda Raju, T. Deva, Ananta Ramu, P. Lovaraju, S. Suresh and M. Sattibabu belong to Pithapuram. Investigation revealed that the murder of a pastor Suvarna Raju in Pithapuram Agraharam in 2005 was committed by the same gang, led by the prime accused Govinda Raju who is an autorickshaw driver. Tuni rural police recovered stolen property worth Rs. 1.5 lakh.
Producing the offenders before media, Superintendent of Police Y. Nagi Reddy said the couple were killed in the night of October 29, 2008.
They were beaten and strangulated by the assailants, who robbed them of a cellular phone, three gold ornaments, a diamond ring and a silver article of total value Rs. 80,000. Upon interrogation, the gang confessed that they have murdered Suvarna Raju and stole two rings costing Rs. 70,000. A case was then registered in Pithapuram police station.
Mr. Nagi Reddy said the gang had surveyed the areas before committing the murders which they planned meticulously.
They took with them gloves and other items with whose help they gained access to houses of the deceased and finished their ‘works’.
All of the accused are uneducated and they stated that the murders were intended to steal property.
The murder case of Suvarna Raju remained a mystery till the six-member gang was arrested on Monday for killing the couple at Tuni.
Their involvement in the pastor’s murder was suspected on the basis of their nativity found to be in Pithapuram.
Mr. Nagi Reddy appreciated Tuni circle inspector N. Madhusudana Rao who cracked the mysteries with the help of his staff by actively pursuing the clues obtained from the scene of the murder at Tuni, under the guidance of SP (Administration) S.J. Janardhan.
–Agencies