CHITTOOR MAYOR KATARI ANURADHA SHOT DEAD IN OFFICE

CHITTOOR MAYOR KATARI ANURADHA

SHOT DEAD IN OFFICE

 Mayor Katari Anuradha was killed and and her husband, Katari Mohan, seriously injured in a lightning attack by three persons at the Mayor's office in Chittoor on Tuesday noon. The Mayor, who received bullet and knife injuries, died on the spot.According to preliminary information, when the Mayor was in her chamber and her husband in the adjoining room, the three barged in, though some municipal staff asked them to wait, and shot the couple. They also attacked the two with knives before escaping.Municipal officials and TDP leaders rushed the couple to the Chittor General Hospital. Mr. Mohan's condition deteriorated in the hospital and he was shifted to the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.Security has been tightened at vulnerable points in Chittoor to avert any untoward incident.

Mr. Mohan, a senior TDP leader, is the prime accused in the case of attempt to murder former Chittoor MLA CK Jayachandra Reddy alias CK Babu. Babu escaped, but two of his gunmen were killed in the attack that took place a decade ago,Mr. Mohan seriously tried for the TDP MLA ticket from Chittoor, but he could not succeed. He, however, made his spouse the Mayor. He led the party to a thumping majority with 36 corporators out of a total of 50.It was suspected that while the assailants, with two wearing burkhas, moved into the Mayor's chamber, four others waited outside to make it easy for the attackers to escape. All are believed to be from Karnataka.Two persons surrendered before the Chittoor-I town police. But it was not clear whether they were among the attackers or had approached the police for protection in view of the volatile situation in the town.

Prof. John Kurakar