Attempt to kidnap Aurobindo director foiled

An unidentified gunman opened fire at the vice-chairman of Aurobindo Pharma K. Nityananda Reddy, in what is being suspected as an attempt to kidnap him, near Kasu Brahmnananda Reddy Park at the upmarket Banjara Hills locality in Hyderabad today. Nityananda Reddy also opened fire from his pistol to counter the attack.Reddy, who was not injured, grappled with the assailant, who fired a volley of shots with an AK47. The gunman managed to flee, after biting Reddy's brother, who was also there, caught hold of the assailant. In the melee the assailant left the AK47 and a bag in the car.

The incident occurred as Reddy was getting into his car after his morning walk in the park. The assailant, according to police, got into the car after following Reddy to the car from the park. Seeing the man pointing a gun at him, Reddy caught hold of the barrel of the rifle, leading to a scuffle between the two.'In the scuffle the miscreant pressed the trigger. Eight rounds were fired. Immediately, Nityananda's brother, Prasad Reddy who was close to car caught hold of the man. The gunman bit him and fled from the place leaving behind his weapon,' a police official said.
Senior police officials along with dog squads and ballistic experts from forensic laboratory rushed to the scene and launched investigations. They gathered several clues and also recovered bullets and empty shells. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy, who visited the scene, said the rifle was missing since January this year from a commando of Greyhounds, the elite anti-Maoist force. The police are probing the incident from all angles including the possibility of involvement of a Maoist or a former Maoist. The motive of the attacker is also still not clear. 7