Andhra: Chittoor mayor stabbed to death in office

The mayor of Chittoor was on Tuesday stabbed to death and her husband seriously injured by unidentified assailants, in an attack suspected to be a fallout of a family dispute, the police said.

The incident occurred at Chittoor Municipal Corporation office when five-six persons with their faces covered barged into Mayor Katari Anuradha's chamber and stabbed her, resulting in her death, Deputy Inspector General (AnantapurRange) K Satyanarayana told PTI.

The mayor, aged around 50, belonged to the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

Before escaping from the spot, the assailants went into an adjoining room where Anuradha's husband K Mohan, also senior TDP leader, was sitting and apparently shot at him before stabbing him, Andhra Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (law and order) R P Thakur said.

Asked specifically if the mayor was shot dead, Thakur said she was stabbed to death.

Mohan was taken to the ChristianMedicalCollegeHospital at Vellore for treatment where his condition was reported to be serious, Satyanarayana said.

"As per preliminary information, the attack was carried out following a family dispute. An investigation has been launched and the truth will be revealed soon. The attackers belong to Karnataka and a hunt has been launched to nab them. We will catch them very soon," he said.

A pistol and a knife have been recovered from the spot, the DIG added.