Liquor Trader Flees Home, Leaves Behind Suicide Note Blaming MLA Gottipati Ravikumar

A liquor shop owner in Ballikurava mandal of Prakasam district disappeared claiming threat to his life from Addanki MLA Gottipati Ravikumar. He left behind a nine-page suicide note saying that the TDP MLA was harassing him by forcibly closing his liquor shop for not joining his faction in Telugu Desam.

According to victim Utukuru Srinivasa Rao's brother Venkata Subba Rao, Rao was a camp follower of former MLA and TDP leader Karanam Balaram. However, ever since, Ravi Kumar defected to the TDP, he has been trying to nibble away at Karanam Balaram's support base. He has been threatening Srinivasa Rao to join his camp, failing which his businesses would suffer. When Srinivasa Rao did not pay heed to his threats, Gottipati got the wine shop in Kommalapadu of Ballikurava mandal closed. Since then, Srinivasa Rao was subjected to harassment by the MLA, his PA Sarathi and his followers.

According to Subba Rao, though Srinivasa Rao went missing, the police have not taken any action. A complaint has been lodged on November 16 and the voice records of the threatening calls from the MLA, his PA and liquor trader Nageswara Rao were handed over to the police, no action has been taken. The note left by Srinivasa Rao clearly mentions the name of the MLA and his followers.