A police team on Wednesday morning arrested a five-member gang at a private school zone in Palamaner town, which was lying in wait to murder a couple.
One Musali Chandramouli (41), a government teacher of Somala mandal now under suspension, had reportedly murdered his colleague Kumari (40) at her school premises in neighbouring Gangavaram mandal in April, allegedly due to financial disputes. The accused was arrested and came out on bail a couple of months ago. Reportedly establishing contacts with his jailmates, he had formed a gang with four criminals from Chirala and Anantapur, offering them hefty money, for murdering the parents of Kumari, to obliterate evidence.
The police patrol team found the gang moving suspiciously near the school. When they tried to flee, the police team apprehended them with the help of the public. Knives and mirchi powder packets were seized from them.
The police said Chandramouli was also wanted in a chain-snatching incident. A fortnight ago, he attacked a woman teacher at Peddapanjani mandal and snatched away her gold jewellery. On interrogation, gold articles were recovered from the suspended teacher. All the five were produced before the local court which sent them for remand.