Lakshmi Naidu, who belonged to the Kapu community, was mowed down by a car allegedly driven by Kakarla Harischandra Prasad (27) at Rallapadu village.
Published Oct 21, 2025 | 7:18 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2025 | 7:18 PM
Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi visited the bereaved family soon after the incident.
Synopsis: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured that the government was committed to maintaining peace and communal harmony. “Such heinous acts will not be tolerated in Andhra Pradesh. The guilty will face the strictest punishment,” he said, adding that the investigation was being pursued on priority.
In an apparent bid to defuse caste tensions following the murder of a Kapu youth in Rallapadu village in Nellore’s Gudluru mandal on 2 October, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a substantial relief package for the victim’s family.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time, with sections of the Kapu community expressing unease over their perceived marginalisation under the TDP-led government, which is often viewed as dominated by the Kamma community—despite Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, a Kapu leader, holding a key position in the Cabinet.
At a high-level review meeting held in Amaravati on Tuesday, 21 October, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the “inhuman and barbaric” killing of Lakshmi Naidu (25) and directed officials to ensure swift and exemplary justice.
Ministers V Anitha, P Narayana, DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, and Kandukur MLA Inturi Nageswara Rao, attended the meeting.
Naidu ordered the establishment of a special tribunal for speedy trial and transfer of the case to a fast-track court. He also instructed the appointment of a special public prosecutor to ensure that the accused receive stringent punishment.
The chief minister announced an extensive compensation and rehabilitation package for the victim’s family:
The victim’s wife will receive 2 acres and ₹5 lakh in cash.
Each of the two children will be allotted 2 acres and ₹5 lakh in fixed deposits, with the state government covering all educational expenses.
For the injured survivors — the victim’s brothers Pavan Kumar and Bhargav — the following aid has been sanctioned:
Pavan Kumar will receive 4 acres, ₹5 lakh in cash, and government-funded medical treatment.
Bhargav will be granted ₹3 lakh in cash, with medical expenses borne by the state.
According to police, Lakshmi Naidu, who belonged to the Kapu community, was mowed down by a car allegedly driven by Kakarla Harischandra Prasad (27) at Rallapadu village.
His father, Madhava Rao (47), was also named in the FIR. Naidu, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, died on the spot, while his brothers sustained injuries. Both the accused were arrested the same day and were remanded to judicial custody. Police have attributed the crime to personal financial disputes, dismissing caste or political motives.
Despite the police clarification, the case has quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders, including former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, termed the murder a “political killing” and accused TDP activists of being behind it, alleging a collapse of law and order.
The TDP leadership, however, refuted the charges, insisting the incident was purely personal and apolitical.
As tensions flared, Backward Classes Youth (BCY) leader Ramachandra Yadav visited the bereaved family on 19 October, extended ₹2 lakh in financial aid, and demanded a fair investigation, describing the incident as a “political murder.”
Subsequently, Home Minister Anitha and Municipal Administration Minister Narayana also called on the family to express condolences, reiterating that the killing was not politically motivated.
Seeking to quell further unrest, Naidu assured that the government was committed to maintaining peace and communal harmony. “Such heinous acts will not be tolerated in Andhra Pradesh. The guilty will face the strictest punishment,” he said, adding that the investigation was being pursued on priority.
By moving swiftly with both relief and judicial action, the Naidu government hopes to contain the fallout and prevent the incident from sparking wider caste tensions across the state’s southern districts, where Kamma–Kapu rivalries have historically been sensitive.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
