Unidentified gunman opens fire at K. Nityananda Reddy at KBR Park, leaves behind AK47 as he flees the scene

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 on Wednesday morning, police said.

Mr. 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 Mr. 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 Mr. Reddy was getting into his car after his morning walk in the park. The assailant, according to police, got into the car after following Mr. Reddy to the car from the park. Seeing the man pointing a gun at him, Mr. 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 have reached the spot.

An eyewitness, who was cycling on the other side of the road near the NTR Memorial Trust Bhavan, headquarters of the Telugu Desam Party, said he heard a few shots first and when he looked up, saw the scuffle going on, next to an Audi SUV, on the other side of the road.

“The gunman shook himself free of the grappling hands of the person I was told later, was Prasad, Mr. Reddy's brother, and leaving the firearm behind in the vehicle, got out and escaped on foot even as dozens of people just watched. I contemplated for a moment, if I could or should chase the person on my cycle, but was unable to take a decision,” he said.