The Saroornagar police with the assistance of Special Operation Team (SOT) arrested four persons for conspiring to kill an astrologer Turapatri Nagaraju with the help of hired assailants.
Nagaraju, a native of West Godavari district, was living at Jinkalabavi Colony in Saroornagar.
According to police, on April 1, some unknown persons opened fire on Nagaraju outside his residence.
The arrested persons are — Bhutham Srinivasa Rao, 36, Sirigiri Chinna Srinivas, Sirigiri Delhi Babu, Sirigiri Ganesh, all astrologers and natives of Pinakadimi. Eight others – Govind Rao, Sanjay Parcha, Chand Jigar, Saahil, Kalyanam Nageswara Rao, Mariah, Kalamanchi Mariah and Venkanna Babu are still absconding. LB Nagar DCP Tafseer Iqbal said that the families of Nagaraju and Bhutham Durga Prasad have been at loggerheads for the last few years over various issues in their village.
Nagaraju and his family members with the help of some villagers murdered Durga Rao in Pinakamidi village on April 6, 2011. Afterwhich, Nagaraju managed to evade arrest and shifted to Hyderabad along with his family and staying in Jinkalabavi colony. Meanwhile, brothers of Durga Prasad hired two assassins and attempted to kill Nagaraju at his house in Jinkalabavi colony.