The murder of Tirumalasetty Lakshmi Naidu, a 25-year-old Kapu youth in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, on Oct 2, has sparked a caste-based conflict between Kapu and Kamma communities. The accused, Harichandra Prasad, was arrested. The TDP-led government is intervening to prevent escalation, promising justice and support for the victim’s kin.