Land dispute behind Sambhashivudu's murder: police

District Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar on Tuesday stated that the police have identified the prime accused in connection with the murder of former Maoist and Telangana Rashtra Samithi politburo member Sambashivudu, who was killed brutally  near Gokaram village, Velgonda mandal of Nalgonda district on March 26.

Talking to media persons, Mr Rajesh Kumar stated that the prime accused belonged to Naeem gang, who had personal grudges with the slain TRS leader since a long time.

The reason behind the brutal murder was a Land Dispute between the prime accused from the Naeem gang and the victim, the SP said.

The SP stated that apart from the prime accused, six other suspects are still on the run. However, he expressed confidence that they will be nabbed soon.

Mr Rajesh Kumar stated that five other accused have been arrested in connection with the case so far. These have been identified as Suresh, Rakesh, Srikanth, Sridhar and Amar.

Suresh reportedly admitted before the police that he killed Sambhasivudu as his family members were being harassed by the TRS leader and former Maoist.

Revealing more details about the gruesome murder, Mr Rajesh Kumar stated that money to the tune of Rs 5 lakh changed hands before Sambhasivudu was killed. The SP added that 10 persons were directly involved in the murder out of 12 persons who attacked the former Maoist. All accused belonged to Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts, he revealed.

The SP said the police had also seized four knives used by accused to kill Sambhasivudu.

The former Maoist was chased and hacked to death by unidentified persons late on the night of on March 26 while returning to Hyderabad from Nalgonda district after attending a 'Dhoom Dham' programme in support of a separate Telangana state.

Later, police found a car believed to have been used by the killers from the backyard of a school in Chotuppal.

The former Maoist was being accompanied by his supporters when the brutal murder took place near Gokaram village, Velgonda mandal of Nalgonda district. Sambhashivudu was left seriously injured in the attack and died while being shifted to a hospital.

Doctors at the Gandhi Hospital had said that the former Maoist and TRS politburo member was stabbed 20 times with sharp weapons.

Initial reports had said that a gang of about 15 persons chased the car in which the TRS leader was returning to the city and attacked him with swords and sickles. His supporters travelling in another car also received injuries.

According to reports, about 80 criminal cases were pending against Sambhasivudu, including his involvement in the Alipiri bomb blast case.

Sambashivudu, named Konapuri Ilaiah at birth was once an active Naxal before he surrendered in 2009 due to ill health. He had joined the TRS in 2010 and made a party politburo member.