Dope peddler murdered

VISAKHAPATNAM: A ganja smuggler was brutally murdered and set on fire by his rivals near Ratnampeta of Rolugunta mandal late on Friday. The incident came to light on Saturday morning.
Police said D Ramana (48), a small farmer from Benabhupalapatnam of Rolugunta mandal, took to ganja smuggling a few years ago. While returning home on his two-wheeler on Friday night, he was allegedly attacked by Chinni Krishna, B Appala Naidu and T Koteswar Rao.The trio allegedly thrashed with sticks till he died after which the attackers set fire to his body by pouring kerosene on it.
The body of Ramana was found with more than 40% burns, police said. Two of the accused, Chinni Krishna and B Appala Naidu, had recently been arrested by Rolugunta police for teasing Ramana's daughter. Sources said the killers and the victim had a business dispute and that the teasing incident only added oil to the fire. All the accused are absconding.