Andhra Pradesh: A tomato farmer was murdered in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district by unidentified persons allegedly for robbing him of the money he earned by selling tomatoes, said police on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the lifeless body of Narem Rajasekhar Reddy (62) was discovered in Bodimalladinne village of Madanapalle mandal, indicating a tragic murder. According to the police, Reddy met his untimely demise on Tuesday night while en route to the village with a milk delivery. The assailants ambushed him during his journey, restraining his movements by binding his hands and legs before ultimately strangling him using a towel.
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During the investigation, Reddy’s wife provided a crucial piece of information to the police. She recounted that a group of unidentified men had visited their farm, posing as potential buyers of tomatoes. However, upon learning that her husband was absent and had gone to the village, they promptly departed from the scene.
Amidst the soaring prices of tomatoes, a farmer from Andhra Pradesh reportedly earned Rs 30 lakh by selling his tomato crop in an agricultural market. Tragically, his sudden windfall seems to have attracted unwanted attention, as the farmer was found murdered. The police are currently investigating the case from multiple angles, including the possibility that the motive behind the crime was the large sum of money the farmer was believed to be carrying.
To aid in their investigation, the police have formed four dedicated teams and have even enlisted the help of a sniffer dog. Initial suspicions suggest that the murder may have involved the collaboration of three to four individuals. The Superintendent of Police, Gangadhar Rao, personally visited the crime scene and had discussions with the victim’s family.
The farmer, survived by his wife and two married daughters residing in Bengaluru, had achieved significant financial success through the tomato sales. Presently, tomatoes continue to be priced exorbitantly at Rs 120 per kg in the open market of Andhra Pradesh. In Rythu Bazaars, the prices are relatively lower, ranging from Rs 94 to 95 per kg, whereas the government-run counters are offering tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 50 per kg.
