Cousin brothers ‘found dead’ in Nellore district

Two persons were suspected to have been murdered in the fields of Gandavaram village in Kodavalur mandal, SPSR Nellore district, on Monday morning. The deceased have been identified as Kundurthi Venkatesh (29), from Pedaputhedu in Dagadarthi mandal, and Koppala Bala Venkaiah (25), from Venkareddypalem in Sangam mandal.

According to the preliminary investigation of the Kodavalur police, an alleged illicit relationship and subsequent quarrels could be the reason behind the deaths. Venkatesh was a married man, while Venkaiah was unmarried. They were both cousin brothers. The police officials have launched a thorough investigation, probing the case from all angles.

Based on the complaint from Kundurthi Balu, brother of deceased Venkatesh, a case has been registered under Sections 103(1)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the police, three suspects in the murder case — Bathala Kalyan, Bathala Prashanth and Bathala Vijay Bhaskar — have turned off their phones after the incident and are absconding. Special teams have been deployed to find their whereabouts, the police said.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajitha Vejendla, along with Additional SP (Admin) Ch. Soujanya, Rural DSP Ghattamananeni Srinivasa Rao, and Special Branch DSP A. Srinivasa Rao visited the crime scene. Orders were issued to the clue teams and dog squads to collect the evidence. Five special teams were formed to conduct a speedy investigation. These teams are searching for the murderers.