Gang rivalry and deep-rooted vengeance were the main motives behind the killing of notorious rowdy-sheeter B. Narasimha Murthy alias Natchu, who was brutally bludgeoned to death with heavy iron rods on March 14, near Zilla Parishad, under MR Peta Police Station limits.
On March 19, five persons were arrested and it was said that extortion was the main motive. But with the arrest of Kasim, a rowdy-sheeter, it has been established that it was a case of gang rivalry.
As per the initial investigation, it was said that Natchu was killed by a gang of five members, who were victims of harassment and extortion by Natchu. All the five members were auto-rickshaw drivers, small time shopkeepers or ‘muri-mixture’ vendors on the Beach Road.
But after carefully building the puzzle blocks, the police arrested Kasim, who is said to be the mastermind behind the murder.
Old rivalry
On May 9, last year, Telugu Anil Kumar, a notorious rowdy-sheeter, was brutally done to death by a gang comprising Chittimamu, Narasimha Murthy (Natchu), Podugu Kiran and a few others, near Allipuram in the city. This killing itself was a revenge killing, as Anil had killed Chittimamu’s brother Rajesh and one Nagesh in a double murder, about a year ago in Kancharapalem. After Anil’s killing, his close associate Kasim, who is also the brother-in-law of Anil, and one B. Murali, vowed to kill Chittimamu, Natchu and Podugu Kiran. A couple of months ago, there was an attack on Podugu Kiran by the rival group, but he survived with injuries.
Since then, Kasim and Murali had been planning to get the three. Understanding that Natchu had differences with one Santhosh, an auto driver and the muri-mixture sellers, Kasim brainwashed them, typically the way hardcore jihadists do with suicide bombers, said a senior police officer.
Sinister plan
Kasim designed a sinister plan with Sigadam Santhosh Kumar, Medisetty Varaprasad, Kona Kanakaraju, Bammidi Ravi Kumar Yadav and Boga Arjun, to eliminate Natchu. Fully aware that Natchu was addicted to liquor, he asked Santhosh to invite him for a drink at an isolated spot near Zilla Parishad and once intoxicated, all the five bludgeoned him to death.
As per the police, Kasim has not only confessed to the killing, but the call data record proves his link with the killers and the five who have actually taken part in the act have corroborated his involvement. It is also learnt that Anil Kumar’s mother had even financed the killers to the tune of about Rs. 30,000.
A senior police officer said that both the gangs have vowed to spill the blood of each other, ever since Anil Kumar killed Chittimamu’s brother. “We expect at least another major killing, before May 9, the death anniversary of Anil Kumar. And we have kept the gangs under surveillance,” he said. At one point of time, the members of both the gangs were united under one gang with Anil Kumar as the kingpin. They fell apart, with the killing of Chittimamu’s brother by Anil over the sharing of some extortion money and since then the bloodbath has started.
Police arrested Kasim, who is said to be the kingpin behind the murder of Natchu