Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Two Killed in Suryapet Neem Tree Dispute Clash
Two families in a village had argued for several days about a neem tree.
The argument became violent on Saturday.
A man named Venkateswarlu was reportedly hit with an axe and died.
Another man, Saida, also died while being taken to a hospital.
The reports disagree about who cut the tree first and exactly how Saida was fatally injured.
Saida’s son Ramulu, also called Ramu, was taken into police custody.
Villagers allegedly threw stones during the police response, injuring a sub-inspector.
Police are investigating and keeping extra officers in the village.
Venkateswarlu and Bukya Saida were killed after a neem-tree dispute escalated into violence in Erragattu Thanda.
Reports differ on who initiated the tree cutting: one says Venkateswarlu chopped branches, while another says Saida cut down the tree.
Ramulu, also identified as Ramu, allegedly attacked Venkateswarlu with an axe, killing him at the scene.
Accounts differ on Saida’s death: one says his son Ramu attacked him, while another attributes the fatal blow to an axe used by Saida’s elder son Peddababu.
Police detained the suspected attacker, while Sub-Inspector M. Naveen Kumar was injured by alleged stone-pelting; police arranged deployment and began an investigation.
- Who
- Bukya Saida, Manda Venkateshwarlu, Saida’s sons Ramulu/Ramu and Peddababu, local villagers, and police including Sub-Inspector M. Naveen Kumar.
- What
- A dispute between two families over a neem tree escalated into a clash that killed Saida and Venkateswarlu and injured a police sub-inspector.
- When
- Saturday; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- Erragattu Thanda, also referred to as Yerragadda Thanda, in Mellacheruvu mandal of Suryapet; Saida was being taken to a hospital in Huzurnagar.
- Why
- The violence reportedly began after a dispute over cutting or removing a neem tree beside Venkateswarlu’s house.
First Report’s Account
Second Report’s Account
Who cut the tree?
First Report’s Account
The report says Venkateswarlu allegedly tried to chop branches, while Saida tried to stop him.
Second Report’s Account
The report says Saida allegedly cut down a neem tree beside Venkateswarlu’s house, triggering the argument.
How Saida was injured
First Report’s Account
It says Ramu allegedly attacked his own father Saida with an axe while Saida was trying to hide him.
Second Report’s Account
It says Saida’s elder son Peddababu was attacking Venkateswarlu’s family when the axe reportedly struck Saida.
Names and family details
First Report’s Account
The first report identifies the suspected attacker as Ramu and names Saida and Venkateswarlu.
Second Report’s Account
The second report identifies the attacker as Ramulu, describes him as Saida’s second son, and also names the elder son Peddababu.
- Deaths
- Manda Venkateshwarlu and Bukya Saida
- Dispute
- A longstanding disagreement between two families over a neem tree
- Reported weapon
- An axe was allegedly used in the attacks
- Suspect detained
- Saida’s son Ramulu, also identified as Ramu
- Police injury
- Sub-Inspector M. Naveen Kumar sustained a head injury during alleged stone-pelting
- Police action
- A case was registered, an investigation was launched, and heavy deployment and picketing were arranged
- Post-mortem
- The bodies were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem examination
