Hyderabad:  The bitter rivalry between two families of astrologers in West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh took murderous turn in Hyderabad when two armed assailants shot at a 62-year-old astrologer, who is also an accused in a murder case, at Saroornagar on Wednesday.

Astrologer T Nagaraju survived the bid on his life, but suffered three bullet injuries. After emergency surgery, he is recovering in hospital.

The incident took place when two unidentified persons, who were waiting on the road for Nagaraju, attacked suddenly on the astrologer as he was walking past them. One of the killers whipped out a country-made pistol and opened fire at him, police said.

Nagaraju is also the main accused in his brother-in-law Bhootam Durga Rao's murder that was committed in Eluru in April 2014.

Police said "Govindu is in London, but Srinivasa Rao has been absconding for some time,”