Rowdy Korangu dies of illness in Andhra Pradesh

BENGALURU: S Krishnamurthy alias Korangu, a history-sheeter facing over 50 criminal cases, died of illness at a hospital in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh on Friday. He was 53. Korangu, younger brother of a sitting Bengaluru MLA, was among the city's most-wanted rowdies in 1980s and 1990s. He had been arrested over 30 times. Son of Subramanyam Naidu, a Chittoor migrant who lived in Vyalikaval near Sadashivanagar, he gained the moniker Korangu (monkey in Tamil) as he would scale with ease high compounds of Palace Grounds to steal mangoes. In 1980s, Korangu (then only 17) identified himself with underworld don MP Jayaraj and was first detained in an extortion case. He gained notoriety after his gang allegedly killed rowdy sheeter Balarama in Central Prison in May 1995. Balarama was stabbed to death inside his cell; Korangu had smuggled seven knives into the jail by hiding them inside masala dosas, police said. Balarama's staunch associates vowed to avenge their leader's killing and attacked Korangu and his men when they were having food at a dhaba in Hiriyur. Korangu survived the attack but lost his left palm. In 2017, Korangu was arrested on charges of plotting the shootout of Kadabagere Seena, who survived with injuries. The same year, Korangu walked out on bail and shifted to Chittoor where he started a stone-crushing business. SK Umesh, DSP (internal security), who arrested Korangu a couple of times, said: "He would conspire in prison as it was the safest place for him. Hiring small-time goons, he would plan and execute extortion, robbery and land encroachments. However, he had health issues. He was suffering from Parkinson's and recently, had liver problems."