Man accused in 5 murder-for-gain cases brutally killed in Anakapalle district

Visakhapatnam: A 26-year-old man, accused in five murder-for-gain cases in parts of Anakapalle district, was brutally murdered by unidentified persons at midnight on Thursday near Gadirai village under V Madugula police station limits in Anakapalle district.The deceased was identified as P Upendra Babu alias Upendra, a native of Jampena village of V. Madugula mandal, and he was a rowdy-sheeter. Upendra, who was arrested by Vizianagaram police a few weeks ago in a major property offence case, released on bail on February 23, was murdered in a suspected revenge attack on February 26 midnight. Upendra took the crime route to lead a lavish life and to meet his vices.It may be recalled that Upendra and his associate Pilla Nookaraju (35), a native of Laxmipuram of Chodavaram mandal in Anakapalle district, were arrested by Vizianagaram district police on February 12 for breaking into a locked house at Boddam village of Vepada mandal under Vallampudi police station limits and decamping with 420 gm of gold ornaments and 330 gm of silver ornaments, valued at ₹80 lakh on February 1.Speaking to TOI, sub-inspector of V. Madugula police station, G. Narayana Rao, said Upendra was involved in five murder-for-gain cases (two cases under V. Madugula police station limits, two cases under Makavarapalem police station limits and one case under Munagapaka police station limits) between 2021 and 2024. The cases against him were pending in different courts, he added.Police said in one of the five cases, Tatikonda Swaminaidu (25), owner of a rice mill, was found dead under suspicious circumstances near an unused water treatment plant building, and a cash bag of ₹18 lakh was missing in V. Madugula of Anakapalle district on February 6, 2021. Upendra, who was among a few people that found the dead body, acted innocent. But after sustained interrogation, he spilled the beans.The investigation revealed that Upendra came to know Swaminaidu was carrying ₹18 lakh cash. Upendra made Swaminaidu drink alcohol heavily in the unused building and later stabbed him to death for the cash. Upendra also tried to divert police attention in the case by removing the pant of the deceased and leaving a used condom at the crime scene to give the impression that the murder was committed out of sexual jealousy.Though Upendra was arrested in the murder case of Swaminaidu and sent to remand, he murdered another person for gain in 2021 after release from prison on bail. Similarly, he was involved in three more murder cases after being released from prison in every murder case. He was facing trials in five murder cases and, while out on bail, committed some property offences in Vizianagaram district, police added.Some unidentified persons attacked Upendra with iron rods and smashed his head to death near Gadirai village (near his hometown) on Thursday midnight. Upendra was found murdered in a pool of blood. Police suspect previous enmity to be the motive of the brutal murder. A case has been registered, and investigation is on to identify the accused persons, said sub-inspector Narayana Rao.