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Maoists shot dead a Congress leader Srimanthula Seetarama Rao in Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday night.
The 55-year-old victim was the brother-in-law of Congress legislator from Kothagudem Vanama Venkateswara Rao. He was also the president of Kunavaram mandal unit of the Congress.
In the first Maoist-related incident in Kunavaram mandal in the last 10 years, four armed Maoists came to Seetarama Rao's house in Marrigudem village around 7.30 pm. They took him outside and shot him dead from close range.
Before shooting, the Maoists accused him of being a police informer and charged him with leaking information about Maoist movements. After the firing, the Maoists fled back to the forests.
People of neighbouring houses came out on hearing three gunshots. The slain leader was found in a pool of blood in front of his house.
Tension prevailed in the village after the incident. Police sounded a red alert and special police parties launched combing operations in the forest area adjoining the village to nab the Maoists.
Vanama Venkateswara Rao, who is also District Congress president, condemned the killing. On hearing the news, he rushed to Marrigudem from Palvancha.
Seetarama Rao was allegedly at loggerheads with leaders of another group of the same party in the village. He had not received any threats from the Maoists.
Incidentally, this is the third incident of the killing of a ruling party MLA's kin in the state in less than three weeks.
On October 21, Maoists had shot dead Chikkudu Lakshmaiah, elder brother of Congress MLA Chikkudu Vamshi Krishna from Achampet, at Yellampalli village in Amrabad mandal in Mahbubnagar district.
On October 30, Maoists shot dead Chinna Rangaiah, brother of Pagadala Ramaiah, Congress MLA from Giddalur, at Chinnaganipalli village in Racherla mandal in Prakasam district.