Tirupati: A wedding celebration in Andhra Pradesh’s temple town of Tirupati turned into a scene of horror after two men were allegedly stabbed to death following a heated argument linked to a family dispute.
The incident occurred around 9:40 pm near a marriage hall on Tiruchanur Road, sending shockwaves through the local community and wedding guests.
The deceased have been identified as 50-year-old Munirathnam Reddy, a resident of Jeevakona, and Manikanta, who lived in Subba Reddy Nagar, Tirupati.
According to police, Munirathnam died at the scene after suffering multiple stab injuries. Manikanta, who was critically injured in the attack, was rushed to Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries despite medical efforts.
Family Dispute Believed To Have Triggered The Attack
Preliminary investigations suggest the violence stemmed from a long-standing family dispute.
Police suspect that the main accused, Sunil, a resident of Jangalapalli village in Yerpedu mandal, carried out the attack along with his brother, sister, and another relative.
According to sources, Sunil had been living separately from his wife for several years. On Wednesday night, his mother-in-law, Sampurnamma, reportedly learned that he would be attending a wedding at Padmavathi Kalyana Mandapam.
She allegedly informed Munirathnam and Manikanta, who had arranged her daughter’s marriage. The two men reportedly confronted Sunil at the venue over allegations that he had abandoned his wife.
What began as a verbal confrontation soon escalated into a violent clash after Sunil’s relatives allegedly joined the altercation.
Police said the accused allegedly attacked both men with knives before fleeing the marriage hall.
Police Examine CCTV Footage And Viral Videos
Police teams reached the scene shortly after receiving information about the incident. Investigators have collected evidence and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Authorities are also verifying several videos recorded by eyewitnesses, one of which has gone viral on social media.
According to sources, the accused were traced before they could leave Tirupati and have been taken into custody for questioning.
Investigation Underway
Tirupati East Circle Inspector Srinivasulu said the exact motive behind the murders is still being investigated.
While preliminary findings point towards a family dispute as the trigger for the attack, police are continuing to question the suspects and collect evidence before filing detailed charges.
Further investigation is underway.