Kothagudem: Village Elder Hacked to Death Over Black Magic
- Police Probe Land Dispute and Black Magic Angle in Brutal Murder
- Victim Found Beheaded Near Stream in Marrigudem, Chunchupally Mandal
A gruesome murder shocked residents of Marrigudem village in Chunchupally mandal of Kothagudem district late on Thursday night, after a village elder was found beheaded. Police identified the deceased as Madivi Nandaiah, a resident of the same village. His body was discovered near a stream with his head separated from the torso. The killers reportedly beat him before hacking him to death and dumping the body.
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the incident. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the motive could be linked to a land dispute. However, villagers allege that the killing was an act of revenge against Nandaiah’s alleged black magic practices. According to the locals, two persons—Pondem Ramu and S. Venkatesh from the Maya Bazaar area—carried out the murder after holding the deceased responsible for performing black magic.
Authorities from the two-town police station took swift action after being informed. SHO Pratap registered a case under relevant sections and began investigating multiple angles, including both the land dispute and the villagers’ allegations. Police teams have reportedly started tracing the suspects based on eyewitness accounts and local inputs.
The shocking nature of the crime has created panic in the region. Residents gathered near the scene as police cordoned off the area to collect evidence. The body was later shifted for post-mortem as part of the investigation procedures. Police maintained that they were examining all possible motives before reaching a conclusion about the cause behind the crime.
The incident has once again drawn attention to rising cases of violence in rural areas over superstitions and personal enmities. Officials assured that strict action would be taken against the culprits and that law and order will be maintained in Marrigudem and surrounding areas.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
