Narsapur MLA's driver found shot dead in room

Hyderabad: Narsapur MLA Madan Reddy’s driver was found shot dead inside his room at the Old MLA quarters in Hyderguda on Tuesday. The firearm, a .9 mm pistol,  belongs to the MLA’s gunman B. Ravinder.

Although witnesses told the police that it was an accident the police started an investigation.

The driver, Syed Akbar, died on the spot as the bullet pierced his chest. He had been working with the MLA for 15 years.  Meanwhile, the victim’s aunt Rashida alleged foul play.

Police booked a case against the MLA’s gunman, B. Ravinder, an AR constable, under Section 304A for causing death by negligence. Police is now grilling the cop.

Police said the incident occurred at around 2 pm. “Witnesses told us that Syed Akbar wanted to examine the weapon. Initially, without handing over the weapon, Ravinder showed him the pistol after removing the magazine. After that he reloaded the magazine and kept the weapon on the table. Then Akbar took the weapon to check it out,” said a police official from Narayanguda.   

“Before Akbar took the weapon it was cocked and the bullet was in the chamber.  Both Akbar and Ravinder did not notice it. When Akbar took the gun Ravinder tried to take it back and his finger touched the trigger accidentally,” said inspector S. Bheem Reddy. Apart from the duo, Venkat, a driver, and Pandu, another gunman, were present in the room. They were also grilled by the police.

Clues officials said the bullet entered Akbar’s chest, came out through his back and hit the wall behind him. The gunman, Ravinder, was a friend of Akbar as they were working together. "There is no enmity between the two,” a police official said.

But, Akbar's aunt Rashida alleged that it was not an accident. “He cannot make mistakes with the gun because he had handled it before. When he visited me last Saturday he was dull. He said a guy was after him, but did not disclose details. There is foul play in this,” she alleged.