Srikakulam police arrest man in tribal couple murder case

Visakhapatnam: Six days after a couple was hacked to death in Chinarajapuram village under Kotturu mandal in Srikakulam district, the police arrested the accused, Savara Thotayya.It may be recalled that a tribal couple, Savara Illango, 55, and his wife, Savara Jyothi, 50, were hacked to death by Savara Thotayya in Chinarajapuram village on April 28 over suspicions of practising witchcraft.The investigation has revealed that Thotayya's 2-year-old daughter has been suffering from some illness for the past few months. Suspecting that Illango practised black magic as his daughter was not recovering from illness, Thotayya held a grudge against Illango and murdered the couple and fled from the spot.Based on the complaint from Illango's son, the police registered a case and nabbed the accused. The police said they have been generating awareness among the villagers against witchcraft through village meetings.