Kurnool: YSR Congress chief and Leader of the Opposition in AP Assembly YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday paid rich tributes to Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy at Pattikonda, who was killed by alleged TDP backers.

Pattikonda YSRCP in-charge Narayana Reddy and his follower Sambasivudu were brutally murdered at Cherukulapadu village by their rivals in Kurnool district when they were returning home after attending a wedding ceremony in the district on Sunday morning. The police seized the tractor that was used to kill Narayana Reddy.

YS Jagan rushed to Pattikonda in Kurnool to attend the funeral of the slain YSRCP leader immediately after presenting a memorandum to Governor ESL Narasimhan on Monday morning.

The funeral was held at Cherukulapadu, about 80 kms from Kurnool town. YS Jagan consoled Sridevi Reddy, wife of Narayana Reddy and assured them that the party would stand by the bereaved family in their hour of grief.

Meanwhile, thousands of people from across Kurnool district and neighbouring districts joined the last journey of the slain YSRCP leader. The police clamped Section 144 in several places to ensure peace following the brutal attack. Protesting against the politics of murder, the Kurnool district bandh is observed a bundh on Monday.

Criticism is pouring in from all quarters against the politics of murder. BJP senior leader Daggubati Purandheswari slammed the murder and said that faction killings were again raising their heads in Rayalaseema. YSRCP Nagari MLA RK Roja said this was a premeditated killing and blamed TDP for it.