Vijayawada: A 75-year-old woman was murdered over a petty dispute involving just Rs 5 in Madanapalle mandal of Annamayya district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Moola Gangulamma, a resident of Chandra Colony. He sold bangles and toys at local melas (fairs) to eke out a living.
According to rural inspector Satyanarayana, the incident unfolded after an accident involving Gangulamma’s nephew Venkataramana, who had sustained serious injuries after falling into a water tank in Ranga Reddy Colony on Friday night. The family rushed him to Tirupati for emergency treatment. On Saturday morning, Gangulamma boarded an auto-rickshaw to head to the hospital. The auto was driven by Salla Vishnuvardhan (22) from Kuravanka.
Upon reaching CSI Church, Gangulamma paid the fare of Rs 20 and asked the driver to return Rs 5 in change. When the driver said the fare was Rs 20, she reportedly scolded him and remained seated in the auto. Feeling insulted, an enraged Vishnu sped the auto rickshaw and rammed into a fence beside the road. Both of them fell on the ground. Gangulamma got a head injury as her head hit a stone due to the fall. Later, Vishnu assaulted the elderly woman to death, blaming her for the accident.
Abandoning the body on the roadside, the man was about the flee from the spot when locals caught him and handed him over to police.
A case was registered and further investigation is underway.
