Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha died after she was shot at by assailants at the Chittoor Municipal Corporation office in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Her husband Mohan was also attacked and is said to be in critical condition.
Mohan, a TDP leader, is undergoing treatment at the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore in Tamil Nadu.
"Initial information says one of them died and the other is being treated. We are trying to find out motive behind the attack," The Asian Age quoted Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order, Andhra Pradesh, RP Thakur as saying.
The incident took place around noon. Assailants wearing burqa entered the office and opened fire at the Mayor and her husband, and attacked them with knives. "The attackers first opened fire at the couple, before stabbing them," Deccan Chronicle quoted Thakur as saying.
According to The Hindu report, there were a total of seven assailants. While three of them entered the office, rest four waited outside.
Five of the attackers have been identified. Two of them have surrendered, while three are on the run. The assailants are suspected to be from Karnataka, DC reported.
The Andhra police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers and police posts are active at the borders with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Mayor Anuradha was a member of the ruling Telugu Desam Party.
