Police focus on psycho’s aides

Kadapa: The district police who nabbed serial killer and psycho Thota Venkataramana(23) of Jeevipuram from a lodge in Rajampet on December 12 after maintaining a vigil on his cell phone calls, produced him before the media here on Saturday.

The police, who seized a country-made gun, a revolver and five bullets from his possession, are concentrating on those persons who allegedly either helped or colluded with Venkataramana, who during the last four years allegedly murdered three persons.

Nine cases have been registered against him so far in the district. He had resorted to the murders and destruction of property of relatives to avenge the humiliation heaped on his mother. Among his victims was a relative Venkataramana, who sustained severe burns while sleeping after the psycho used petrol on June 30,2009. He died later in hospital.

The serial killer surrendered in a court on July 10, 2010, following which his opponents destroyed his properties in Gadelavenkatapuram and subjected his mother to public humiliation.

This enraged Venkataramana in jail. He learnt from other prisoners the use of gun. On the midnight of June 12, 2012, he shot dead Gajji Ramakrishnaiah Venkataramana shot at his target Thota Subrahmanyam on July 19,2012 while he was going to his field. He survived only to die later on November 24 this year and lost his revolver to the psycho.

The alleged killer managed to elude the police by going to Tirupati and Vijayawada. His game was up when he allegedly threatened Gangaiah of Pullampet demanding Rs.1 lakh.