The recent attacks by rival gangs appear to be straight out of an action flick that depicts factional rivalry and killings, and where revenge seems to be main motive.
A rowdy-sheeter is murdered by members of a rival gang and the mother of the deceased adopts the best friend of her son and motivates him to eliminate the persons behind her son’s murder. This is what the police have uncovered after the recent attack on Podugu Kiran, an accused in the murder of Telugu Anil Kumar.
The deceased, a rowdy-sheeter, was brutally done to death in May this year, and this brought to fore the bitter rivalry between the gang members of Anil Kumar and Podugu Kiran and Chittimamu.
The members from both gangs once belonged to a single gang that was managed by Anil Kumar and they specialised in extortion and organising gambling dens.
Their reach spread from the dark alleys of the Fishing Harbour in the One Town area to Kancharapalem and from Poorna Market to Kailasapuram.
According to a senior police officer, they not only extorted money from oil smugglers in the Fishing Harbour and brothel houses but also organised gambling dens.
Split in groups
The crack developed over sharing of the booty. And in 2011, Anil Kumar was instrumental in the brutal double murder of Rajesh and Nagesh, members of the gang, in Kancharapalem.
This incident made the gang members fallout as Rajesh happened to be the brother of Chittimamu, a then lieutenant of Anil Kumar. While Anil, Kasim and Murali formed a gang, Chittimamu and Podugu Kiran developed another gang.
Since then Chittimamu and Podugu Kiran, were looking for an opportunity to eliminate Anil and finally they succeeded in May this year. The police arrested 12 persons in this connection, including Podugu Kiran and Chittimamu. All the arrested were granted bail about 20 days ago and since then Kasim and Murali, members of Anil Kumar’s gang were looking for an opportunity.
Last week, Podugu Kiran was waylaid near the busy Sampath Vinayak temple and nine members, including Kasim and Murali, tried to spray chilli powder and hack him to death. Luckily, the powder fell on his body, and he escaped with some injuries after a hot chase by the assailants in full public view at about 6 30 p.m. All the nine were arrested and Murali confessed to the police that he was adopted by Anil Kumar’s mother and he had taken a vow to finish Chittimamu and Podugu Kiran.
It is this mindset of the gang members that is worrying the police, says Assistant Commissioner of Police (CTF) I. Chittibabu.
The gangs exhort money from oil smugglers, brothel houses and gambling dens