Kothagudem: The body of TRS leader Nalluri Srinivasa Rao, who was kidnapped by Maoists three days ago, was found in Errampadu forest in Charla mandal on Friday morning. It is close to the Chhattisgarh border.
Srinivasa Rao’s wife Durga had appealed to the Maoists to release her husband and had gone with some villagers to try and locate him. The Maoists had abducted a villager in May this year, but he returned safely.
Kothagudem SP Sunil Dutt said the Maoists had killed an “ideal farmer” in a “heinous crime.” The Maoists resorted to the act to threaten others and extort money, he said. The police alerted border police stations and ordered search operations for Maoist dalams.
Rinivas Rao is survived by his wife Durga and son Praveen.
A letter written by Sarada, secretary of the Maoist Charla-Sabari area committee, was found near Srinivas's body. In the letter, the Maoists alleged that Srinivas was working in tandem with the police and giving information about their movements to the police.
Srinivas Rao played a major role in getting the leaders of the arrested by using his influence with the police. He had allegedly encroached on 70 acres of forest land of Adivasis and was not handing it over to them.
He reportedly got the police to file cases against the Adivasis who wanted the land. “Rao had a close nexus with Special Branch police and campaigned against the Maoist party,” the Maoists alleged in the note. Tension prevails in the area with the killing of the TRS leader.
