Former Maoist leader Ganti Prasada Rao alias Prasadam, who was shot at and critically injured by unidentified people in Nellore on Thursday, succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Friday, police said.
Ganti Prasadam, as he was popularly known, died while undergoing treatment at Narayana Hospital in Nellore town, about 500 km from here. He was 50.
The body was sent for autopsy. His family members said the body would be taken to his native place Bobbili in Srikakulam district for last rites.
Prasadam was a poet and convenor of the Martyr’s Committee of Friends and Relatives, a group representing kin of Maoists killed in shoot-outs with police.
He was released in 2011 along with some other Maoists in exchange for the release of then collector of Odisha’s Malkangiri district R. V. Krishna from the captivity of the Maoists.
Ganti Prasadam shot at, critically injured:
Ganti Prasadam, State honorary president of the Amaraveerula Bandhumitrula Committee and a close aide of top Maoist leaders, sustained grievous injuries when three unidentified attackers opened three rounds of fire at him in the busy Aravindnagar area near the old Madras bus stand here on Thursday afternoon.
The attack was carried out when Prasadam was about to enter the Nellore Hospital premises to visit an ailing relative. Earlier, he had participated in the martyrs’ day meeting of the Viplava Rachayitala Sangham (Virasam) at the town hall. Doctors, who gave first-aid, said Prasadam suffered three bullet wounds — two in the lower chest and one in the hip. There were also knife injuries on his neck and left forearm. As his condition turned critical, Prasadam was rushed to Narayana Hospital on city outskirts.
The attack took place around 3.30 p.m., a few feet from Nellore Hospital and nearly 100 m from Trunk Road opposite the district courts complex. “We heard a loud sound two times initially. After a little while, another sound was heard. As I was wondering whether a new cinema was released, I was told that a man was attacked nearby,” said G. Vijayakumar, a doctor at the Nellore Hospital.
There were three shells, a watch, footwear and spectacles lying amidst bloodstains at the scene. Nellore Urban DSP P. Venkatanadha Reddy, who visited the scene, said the former Maoist was attacked by three unidentified persons. Doctors said Prasadam required immediate services of surgeons.
Prasadam, who was conscious, was said to have pleaded with visitors to save him to strengthen the movement. He is brother of Maoist Ramesh alias Rajanna, who was killed in an encounter in 1998.
CLOSE TO RK
Prasadam was also one of the six accused in the Aurangabad conspiracy case in which they were acquitted for lack of evidence. He was also known for his close contacts with top Maoist leader Ramakrishna alias RK. In 2011, Prasadam was released from jail along with other Maoists in Odisha in exchange for the release of the then Malkangiri Collector, R. Vineel Krishna, from the captivity of Naxalites.
The condition of Prasadam is stated to be improving at the Narayana Hospital with the doctors finding two bullets inside his body. The third bullet was already extricated at Nellore Hospital where he received first aid after the attack. Doctors continued surgeries on Prasadam in the operation theatre till late in the night. It could not be said that Prasadam was out of danger as of now, but his condition was certainly improving, the doctors said.
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