In a landmark verdict, a sessions court in Andhra Pradesh on Friday sentenced five individuals to death for the brutal murder of Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan, an incident that shocked the state in 2015. The couple was attacked inside a municipal corporation office in broad daylight, underscoring the severity and premeditated nature of the crime.

The court pronounced capital punishment for Chandrasekhar, GS Venkatachalapathi, Jayaprakash Reddy, Manjunath, and Venkatesh. Chandrasekhar, identified as the prime accused, played a leading role in the armed assault that led to the couple’s deaths, according to reports from PTI.

On the fateful day in November 2015, Katari Anuradha and her husband were inside her office chamber at the Chittoor municipal corporation. The five assailants barged into the chamber, opening fire at the couple at point-blank range before attacking them with knives. The attack left Anuradha with fatal injuries to her face and abdomen, and she died en route to the hospital. Her husband Mohan was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries at the Christian Medical College hospital in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

The murder of Katari Anuradha, a prominent leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), had sent shockwaves across Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the vulnerability of public figures to targeted violence. The audacity of the attack, carried out inside a government office during office hours, intensified public outrage and demanded swift justice.

The case, which had drawn significant media attention, involved meticulous police investigations and judicial proceedings spanning several years. The conviction of all five accused was based on strong evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, forensic reports, and investigative findings that established their direct involvement in the premeditated killing.

The court’s decision to award the death penalty to all five convicts reflects the gravity of the crime and serves as a stern warning against politically motivated violence. Legal experts note that the verdict also emphasizes the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice in cases involving high-profile political figures and instances of extreme violence.

Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha had served her constituency with dedication and had been actively involved in municipal governance and local development projects. Her murder not only deprived the community of an elected leader but also highlighted broader issues of law and order, particularly concerning the protection of public officials.

The death penalty verdict is expected to have wider political and social repercussions, reinforcing the state government’s efforts to strengthen security protocols for public representatives and ensuring that perpetrators of political violence face the strictest legal consequences.

The five convicts are likely to file appeals against the sentence in the higher courts, and the legal process will continue in accordance with Indian law. Meanwhile, the Chittoor community and political circles have welcomed the court’s ruling as a step toward justice for the slain mayor and her husband, reaffirming the principle that crimes of this magnitude will not go unpunished.

The case remains a stark reminder of the risks faced by public servants and the importance of maintaining robust security measures for elected officials, especially in politically charged environments. The verdict closes a long chapter in Andhra Pradesh’s political crime history, delivering a measure of closure to the family of Katari Anuradha and Katari Mohan while underscoring the judiciary’s role in upholding justice against violent criminal acts.