It looks like factionalism in Rayalaseema, which had been more or less dormant for the last 15-20 years, appears to be raising its ugly head once again, going by the recent incidents in different districts.
On Saturday, two YSR Congress party activists were hacked to death by their rival faction at Achyutapuram of Yallanur mandal of Singanamala assembly constituency in Anantapur district.
The deceased – Rajagopal and Narayanappa, said to be the close followers of Tadipatri MLA Kethireddy Pedda Reddy, were waylaid, as they were coming from local tehsildar office to resolve a land dispute.
Their rivals pounced on them between Achyutapuram and Vetapuram villages and hacked them to death using sharp weapons. According to the police, there was a dispute between the two groups over encroachments of temple lands.
The police reached the spot and took up the investigation. They posted heavy police bandobust in the village to avoid retaliatory attacks.
This is the third faction incident in Rayalaseema in the last one week. A couple of days ago, two Telugu Desam Party workers were hacked to death by members of the rival faction at Pesaravai village of Gadivemula mandal in Kurnool district. The killings were said to be due to decades-old faction feuds in the village.
Four days ago, a YSRC leader shot dead his 45-year-old relative in Nallapureddypalle village of Pulivendula mandal, Kadapa district on Tuesday supposedly due to disputes between two families.
It is time the Jagan government concentrates on these factional rivalries, lest they bring a bad name to the government.
