Pattikonda YSRCP in-charge, Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy was brutally hacked to death by rivals, while he was returning from a marriage ceremony, at Krishnagiri in Kurnool district.
Around 15-20 assailants are believed to have participated in the murder. They threw bombs on the Fortuner vehicle he was traveling in along with four of his followers including Sambasivudu who was also killed in the incident.
Narayana Reddy had earlier complained to the police that he was facing threat to his life and requested for security. He had recently deposited his gun with the police for a renewal of license but it was delayed.
The assailants who had perfect information about the YSRCP leader's movements waited at the spot and hit his car with two tractors and threw bombs once the vehicle lost control.
Kurnool SP Ravikrishna said a search team has been pressed into action and the culprits will soon be brought to book.
Expressing shock over the murder of Narayana Reddy, YSR Congress Party leader RK Roja said it was definitely a handiwork of the ruling TDP.
MP Butta Renuka, MLAs Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, MLC Gangula Prabhakar Reddy and several leaders condemned the murder.
"It was a planned murder executed by TDP goondas at the behest of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu," Roja alleged.
As a protest against the murder of Narayana Reddy and rising faction politics, YSRCP called for a bandh of Kurnool district on Monday.
YSRCP president, Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will attend the funeral of Narayana Reddy in Cherukulapadu village on Monday.
