The Samisragudem police arrested five persons who allegedly murdered an astrologer and priest Kothalanka Venkata Nageswara Sharma (53) at Tadimalla village in West Godavari district.
Nageswara Sharma and his brother Parameswara Sharma were staying in a house at Tadimalla. They were both astrologers and working as priests.
The gang allegedly killed Sharma in a Sivalayam when he was performing ‘puja’ on March 21. Property dispute between the brothers is suspected to be the motive behind the killing, said Nidadavole CI K. Venkateswarlu.
Samisragudem police arrested K. Sumanth Sharma, son of Parameswara Sharma, and four other gang members, and seized their mobile phones on Saturday.
“Sumanth Sharma developed a grudge against the victim and hired the gang from Vadapalli village, Kovvur mandal in the district to execute his plan,” the CI said.