Congress MLA, husband booked under POTA

The Andhra Pradesh police on Thursday registered a case under the Prevention of Terrorist Act against Congress legislator Konda Surekha, who represents Shyampet constituency in Warangal district, her husband Konda Murali and their associate Gatla Mahipal Reddy for allegedly planning to kill the Telugu Desam Party legislator from Wardhannapet, Dayakar Rao, and an inspector, Ghulam Samdani.

The conspiracy came to light after the police arrested Mahipal Reddy, who confessed that Surekha, Murali and two others, Vishwa Prakash and Srinivas Reddy, had sought the help of the People's War in killing Dayakar Rao.

The police claimed that Surekha, her husband and Vishwa Prakash knew Pullem Sudershan Reddy alias Ramakrishna, PW North Telangana special zonal committee member, who was killed in an encounter with the police in Adilabad district on March 25.

Surekha and Murali reportedly met Ramakrishna several times and asked him for help. Their associates recorded the movements of Dayakar Rao in Hyderabad and conveyed the information to Ramakrishna. When, in January 2002, a PW team, comprising D V K Swamy, Mogili, Bharath and Siddiraju, was sent to Hyderabad, it stayed in an apartment owned by Srinivas Reddy in Bagh Lingampally locality.

The MLA and her associates were accused of helping the PW team in transporting two AK-47 rifles and two carbines to Hyderabad. The team, however, missed Dayakar Rao as he had to go to Warangal on an unscheduled visit.

The police said that Murali and Mahipal Redy were allegedly involved in the murder of Warangal district Telugu Yuvatha president K Pratap Reddy last year.

Mahipal Reddy and Srinivas Reddy were also alleged to have assisted the PW in blasting the Hanamkonda police station in a bid to kill circle inspector Samdhani last year.

Surekha and her husband had allegedly given shelter to PW Warangal district secretary D V K Swamy, alias Yadanna.

Mahipal Reddy, 40, was arrested at Hanamkonda on Thursday. The police recovered a country-made revolver and five rounds from him.

The police is searching for the other accused, including Srinivas Reddy.