Hans News Service Kurnool

A gruesome murder over a property dispute shocked residents of Suluvayi village in Holagonda mandal of Kurnool district on Thursday night.

A man allegedly killed his step-aunt with an axe-like weapon after she refused to transfer agricultural land in his name.

The brutal incident created tension and grief in the village, prompting police to tighten security measures to prevent any untoward incidents.

According to police and local sources, Shekanna, son of Gadilinga’s first wife, allegedly attacked his stepmother’s sister-in-law Yellamma (45), who belonged to the second family of the household.

Family members said Gadilinga had earlier allotted nearly two acres of land to his second wife Yellamma.

On Thursday night, Shekanna reportedly returned home in an inebriated condition and demanded that Yellamma transfer the land registered in her name to him. However, she refused, stating that she had three daughters and intended to keep the property for their future.

Enraged over her refusal, Shekanna allegedly attacked Yellamma with a hunting sickle and killed her on the spot before fleeing from the village.

On receiving information, police rushed to the scene, shifted the body for postmortem, and launched an investigation into the case.

A search operation has been initiated to trace the accused.

Police also deployed security personnel in the village as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the wake of the shocking incident.