Hyderabad, Jan 2 (IANS): The Andhra Pradesh Police Wednesday launched a manhunt for Paritala Sriram, son of a opposition Telugu Desam Party legislator, in a case relating to conspiracy to murder a Congress leader.

Police in Anantapur town searched the house of Paritala Sunita, a TDP legislator and widow of slain former minister Paritala Ravi, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police parties also fanned out in various parts of Anantapur district, notorious for faction killings, looking for Sriram.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Nawaz Khan said the searches were also on at the residences of Sriram's friends. He said all airports were alerted to prevent him from fleeing the country.

Dharmavaram police Tuesday booked Sriram on charges of attempt to murder Congress leader K. Sudhakar Reddy. The case was registered after three accused named him during the investigation.

Police foiled the murder attempt Saturday with the arrest of the three accused, while 10 others escaped. The gang armed with sickles and a gun, was hiding at Kunathutu to attack Sudhakar Reddy, an accused in the murder of three people in 2011.

Anantapur district is notorious for killings between factions supported by political parties. The region has a long history of revenge killings.

Paritala Ravi, considered a war lord and involved in several criminal cases, was gunned down by the gang of his rival Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelachervu Suri at Anantapur in 2005.

Suri was shot dead by his aide in Hyderabad in 2011.