Maoists gun down MLA’s brother

ONGOLE: Naxalites of the CPI (Maoist) gunned down Pagadala Chinna Rangaiah, elder brother of Giddalur MLA Pagadala Ramaiah, at Chinaganapalle in Racharla Mandal of Ongole district on Monday night.Nine armed Naxalites came to the village around 9 pm and called out China Rangaiah, a ration dealer. Three Naxalites shot him from close range killing him on the spot. Rangaiah is survived by his wife and three children.The Naxalites warned the villagers not to inform the police about the incident.Incidentally, another associate of Ramaiah had been killed some time ago. Both incidents took place in the Giddalur Assembly constituency.Earlier, Naxal-related violence was confined to Pullalacheruvu and Yerragondapalem mandals in Nallamala forest region of Prakasam district. But, of late, the Naxalites have shifted their operations to Giddalur region.Monday’s incident was the biggest Naxal-related incident since the killing of top leader Matta Ravi Kumar.Meanwhile, a red alert has been sounded in Kurnool district following the incident. Giddalur borders Kurnool district. Nandyal OSD, Rajasekhara Babu told this website's newspaper they had stepped up security for MLAs in Nandyal division.