Paderu (Visakhapatnam)

Mr.Venkataraju, husband of the Minister for Tribal Welfare Mani Kumari and leader of TDP was shot at point blank range by a youngster suspected to be the member of the banned PWG on Thursday morning at 8.45 AM at his residence. The DIG of Police (Visakha Range) T.A.Tripathi and the Superintendent of Police, Sanjay Kumar Jain told reporters that it was an act of the People's War Group action team which some times resorting to a single-man operation like this. Paderu observed a voluntary hartal as soon as news of killing of Venkata Raju spread.Manikumari and a former MLA K.Chittinaidu arrived here by an helicopter.

Hyderabad

The People's War Activities have shot dead a police constable and snatched his carbine in Gajwel town of Medak district. The Constable who is working as a gunman for K.Ramachandra Reddy, TDP in charge of Siddipet Assembly constituency segment was standing near a house when three persons walked up to him and shot him dead on Thursday night. An action team of PWG shot dead the secretary of the Telugu Desam Party's Bhoodan Pochampally mandal unit in broad daylight at Indriyala village on the same mandal on Thursday.

Visakhapatnam

The Mayor Rajana Ramani has condemned the murder of M.Venktaraju husband of the Minister of Tribal Welfare, Manikumari on Thursday. She expressed shock at the murder and described the act of naxalites as in inhuman. The city BJP unit expressed grief and expressed condolences.

Metpally (Karimnagar District)

The Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani has called upon the extremist groups to shun violence and join mainstream of society, while addressing roadside meetings in Medipalli, Korutla and Metapally towns in the district as a part of the Bharat Uday Yatra.

Khammam

The TDP president Mr.N.Chandrababunaidu on Thursday cam down heavily on the PWG for killing Venkata Raju, husband of the Minister for Tribal Welfare, Manikumari. Addressing the 'Vijaya Shankharavam' rally of the party at the Pavilion grounds here, he asserted the TDP would remain in power and those who are out to create chaos would be dealt severely. Referring the separate statehood for Telangana, he said at any cost he would not allow to split at any cost.

Kakinada

In the light of PWG naxalites' open threat to political leaders in the agency and the day light killing of Venkataraju, Prattipadu 'assembly constituency TDP unit coordination committee members who were panicky have announced on Thursday that they were resigning en masse from the TDP primary membership and also from the party posts.

Adilabad

The Adilabad District Election Officer and Collector has proposed disciplinary action against three employees for violating the model code of conduct.

Warangal

In view of the forthcoming Assembly and Parliament elections, the Prohibition and Excise department personnel raided as many as 50 villages spread over 40 mandals in the district in a statement issued on Thursday.

Nizamabad

The vice-president of the State BJP Seshagiri Rao sustained minor injuries in a road accident involving his car and a private jeep, near Daggi forest area on Thursday evening.

Events and happenings on 18 March in History

18 March 2001
Highlights: State BJP Portfolio Members met held at Hyderabad

18 March 2002
Highlights: Care and Support Centers to treat AIDS to be setup in state

18 March 2003
Highlights: CM says TDP-NDA-coalition unaffected with VHP leader arrest incident

18 March 2004
Highlights: Minister Manikumari's husband shot dead by naxals

18 March 2005
Highlights: Chalo Hyderabad by Mala Mahanadu

18 March 2006
Highlights: Sandal woods trees stolen from Hyderabad Park

18 March 2007
Highlights: Temples including TTD to celebrate Ugadi on Tuesday