In a brazen daylight attack, 43-year-old Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Chandu Naik was shot dead by unidentified assailants during his morning walk in Malakpet, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 7:30 AM at Shalivahana Nagar Park while Naik was walking with his wife, Nari Bai, and others. According to Hyderabad South East Zone DCP S Chaitanya Kumar, four men arrived in a Swift car and opened fire on Naik, killing him on the spot before fleeing.
Police recovered five bullets from the scene and have collected forensic evidence with the help of a clues team. CCTV footage from the area is being analyzed, and investigators are exploring potential motives, including past rivalries and land disputes. The vehicle used in the crime has also been identified.
Naik, originally from Narsayipalli village in Nagarkurnool district, had recently shifted allegiance from CPI (ML) to the CPI. He was previously accused in a 2022 murder case in LB Nagar, which is now also under scrutiny as part of the investigation.
Later in the afternoon, all four suspects reportedly surrendered to the Special Operations Team. Police confirmed they would be formally arrested and presented in court following interrogation.
Naik’s wife, Nari Bai, claimed that one of the attackers was a former Maoist involved in land settlements. “My husband had warned him several times. That could be the reason behind this murder,” she told reporters.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)