BRS leader Sridhar Reddy murdered in Kollapur; BRS alleges political murder

HYDERABAD: A BRS leader was brutally murdered while asleep outside his house in Lakshmipalli, Chinnambavi Mandal, Kollapur constituency, Wanaparthy district. The victim, Sridhar Reddy, 45, was beheaded with an ax by unidentified persons on Wednesday at midnight.

Sridhar Reddy was a close follower of former Kollapur MLA Harshavardhan Reddy. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

This murder marks the second killing of a BRS activist in the constituency within a short period. Earlier, Mallesh Yadav from Gantraupalli village in Peddakottapalli Mandal was murdered allegedly by his political rivals.

Harshavardhan Reddy alleged that Sridhar Reddy's murder was politically motivated, claiming that BRS activists were being targeted in his constituency. He stated that there had been successive attacks on BRS supporters and despite lodging complaints with the Director General of Police, no action had been taken.

Former Minister Niranjan Reddy expressed shock over the brutal killing, noting that two BRS leaders had been murdered in the last five months. He criticised the Congress government, accusing it of fostering a culture of vindictive and violent politics, unlike the previous decade under BRS rule.

Niranjan Reddy urged BRS leaders and workers to remain resilient, emphasising that violence has no place in a democracy. He extended his deepest condolences to Sridhar Reddy's family and called for a thorough investigation. He demanded the arrest and severe punishment of those responsible for the murder.

He demanded that the District Superintendent of Police ensure a comprehensive probe into the incident.