Two class 10 boys held for principal’s murder in Nalgonda

NALGONDA: Nalgonda police on Wednesday remarked two Class 10 students had been arrested for the grisly murder of their school principal.

Key points

• The murder of K Roopa Reddy, principal of Nagarjuna Grammar Concept School in Kondamallepalli, came to light the after day, August 12.
• According to Nalgonda SP Sharat Chandra Pawar, the two students were from Pulsing Thanda and Pilya Thanda in Kondamallepalli mandal and studied at the same school.
• On Wednesday around 11.30 a.m., police intercepted the two students while they were riding a motorcycle near Doniyala X Road.
• After a recce of the area around the principal's house, on August 11, one of the students brought an orange hoodie and trousers from his home.
• The two then allegedly entered the bedroom, took `2.50 lakh and escaped over the rear wall.

Police remarked one of the students planned the crime and enlisted the other to carry it out after they allegedly bore a grudge against the principal for reprimanding them in front of their parents. The students had additionally searched online for ways to commit murder without leaving evidence, police stated.

For context, the murder of K Roopa Reddy, principal of Nagarjuna Grammar Concept School in Kondamallepalli, came to light the after day, August 12.

According to Nalgonda SP Sharat Chandra Pawar, the two students were from Pulsing Thanda and Pilya Thanda in Kondamallepalli mandal and studied at the same school. They additionally lived in the same hostel room.

Police remarked the murder was preceded by a series of steps taken by the students over a week. They had allegedly been using mobile phones secretly to access social media and YouTube while looking for ways to create quick capital.

Last month, Roopa Reddy caught the students with funds in their hostel room and reprimanded them in the presence of their parents. Police remarked the incident led to resentment against the principal. The students allegedly believed that Roopa Reddy had a sizeable amount of cash at home and began looking for ways to rob her.

After a recce of the area around the principal's house, on August 11, one of the students brought an orange hoodie and trousers from his home. The two then purchased a knife and gloves in Kondamallepalli and went to Roopa Reddy's house near a water tank.

While the other entered through an open kitchen door, the student who had allegedly planned the crime remained outside as a lookout. He allegedly attacked Roopa Reddy with the knife, stabbing her 27 times. 'Babu': One word that supported cops nab the killers.

Meanwhile, the two then allegedly entered the bedroom, took `2.50 lakh and escaped over the rear wall. While the hoodie was thrown into a drain after the students changed clothes, police remarked the knife, gloves, mask and a mobile phone were discarded in bushes.

For context, the investigation initially yielded few leads. But a single word spoken by Roopa Reddy shortly before her last phone call concluded provided police a direction.

Roopareddy had been speaking to her aunt when she uttered the word "Babu" before the call was disconnected. Investigators afterwards identified that she applied the word affectionately while addressing male students at the school. This shifted the focus of the investigation towards the students.

In practice, the school remained closed for six days after the murder. After it reopened, police questioned students and began monitoring five of them who had lately shown signs of having more capital and had stayed away from classes for two days. CCTV footage subsequently supported investigators narrow down the suspects.

On Wednesday around 11.30 a.m., police intercepted the two students while they were riding a motorcycle near Doniyala X Road. They were travelling from Pendlipakala X Road towards Mallepalli.

Meanwhile, a search allegedly made public 1.54 lakh hidden in their undergarments. Police additionally identified three 500 notes bearing bloodstains.

Meanwhile, the students subsequently confessed to the murder and robbery, police remarked. Investigators recovered 1.54 lakh in cash, Roopareddy's iPhone, the knife, gloves, masks and two mobile phones.

Police additionally questioned Roopareddy's husband during the investigation as they examined the circumstances surrounding her death.

Five special teams, comprising regarding 40 personnel and led by the Devarakonda DSP, worked on the case using forensic evidence, fingerprints, dog squads, technical analysis and CCTV footage. Police remarked footage from concerning 70 cameras covering a 30-km radius was examined and more than 80 individuals were questioned before the two students were arrested.

For now, two class 10 boys held for principal's murder in Nalgonda remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.