Ontari

The Ontari are a Kapu sub-caste concentrated in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India. They use the titles Naidu and Dora. The Ontaris are the warriors and special forces in Andhra Kingdoms who specialized in weapons. Their surnames start with names of weapons: Kattula (knife), Tupakula (gun or pistol), Kommula, (Bull Horns).

The Kapu Ontari community are different from the Bunt Ontari community (who were individual hand to hand fighters) and the Ontari of Mudiraj community, who are not part of the Kapu Ontari caste. However, it is speculated that during medieval periods that all these ontari sections of Kapu, Tuluva bunt and Mudiraj Ontaris were all one big section and part of the then ruling king race.