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AP Congress chief's father killed in bomb attack

Y S Raja Reddy, father of Andhra Pradesh Congress president Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, MP, was killed on the spot in a bomb attack by a faction of the ruling Telugu Desam Party this afternoon near a bus stand at Vemula village in Cuddapah district.

Reddy and his followers were proceeding to his native Pulivendla town from Vempalli when the TDP faction hurled bombs at him. One of his followers accompanying in his car was also killed in the incident.

The attack on Reddy was allegedly masterminded by the faction headed by Umamaheswara Reddy, brother of Pulivendla marketing committee chairman Parthasarathy Reddy, an arch rival of the 'YS' group in the district, official sources said.

Reddy was booked early this week for assaulting a police officer at Pulivendla.

The number of the injured in the bomb attack was not immediately known.

A general alert has been sounded in Cuddapah district and adjoining areas of Anantapur district with police contingents being deployed in the sensitive areas. All precautions had been taken to avert any possible retaliatory attacks, sources said.

Initial reports from Pulivendla said that Congress workers had attacked vehicles of their TDP rivals at Panagala road.

Dr Rajasekhara Reddy, who is now in Hyderabad, is scheduled to leave for Pulivendla later today.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock and grief at Raja Reddy's death.

UNI

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