Neem Tree Dispute Leads to Double Murder in Mellacheruvu Mandal

A 25-year-old dispute over a neem tree ended in a double murder on Saturday at Erragadda thanda in Mellacheruvu mandal, Suryapet, after a man allegedly hacked his neighbour to death and subsequently killed his own father.

The violence triggered severe tension across the village, prompting the police department to deploy a picket in the area to prevent further clashes.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police R Srinivas Reddy, the feud over the neem tree situated beside the house had been continuing between the two families for nearly 25 years. On Saturday morning, the victim, Manda Venkateshwarlu Yadav, brought several people to the spot and had the disputed tree cut down.

Upon noticing the tree being felled, the accused, Bhukya Ram Naik, confronted Venkateshwarlu over the action, citing the long-standing family dispute. The confrontation quickly escalated from a heated verbal altercation into physical violence.

Police said Ram Naik allegedly attacked Venkateshwarlu with an axe, inflicting severe injuries that resulted in his death on the spot.

During the incident, Ram Naik’s father, Bhukya Saida, who witnessed the violent assault, intervened in an attempt to stop his son. Police alleged that Ram Naik then killed his father in a desperate bid to cover his tracks and frame the incident as a clash between rival groups.

Police have initiated an investigation into the killings and continue to monitor the situation in Erragadda thanda to maintain law and order.