Jagtial: Congress worker Ganga Reddy’s murder accused arrested

Jagtial rural police arrested a person, Bathni Santhosh, in connection with a sensational murder of the Congress leader Maru Ganga Reddy and produced before him the court on Friday.

Jagtial: Jagtial rural police arrested a person, Bathni Santhosh, in connection with a sensational murder of the Congress leader Maru Ganga Reddy. Santhosh was produced before the court on Friday.

A follower of MLC T Jeevan Reddy, Ganga Reddy earlier worked as MPTC.

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Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar, in a statement, informed that old rivalry and land dispute was the main reason for the murder of Ganga Reddy, who was stabbed to death allegedly by Santhosh on October 22 in Jabithapur of Jagtial rural mandal.

A toddy tapper by profession, Santhosh and his father Lachanna reportedly had a longstanding land dispute with Santhosh’s uncle, who was supported by Ganga Reddy. As a result, Ganga Reddy became an enemy of Santhosh.

The accused suspected that Ganga Reddy was involved in the registration of 307 IPC and SC/ST atrocities cases against him in the year 2020. As the case trial was scheduled to start from November 25 this year, Santhosh, 15 days before the murder, met Ganga Reddy to convince him to compromise the case. However, Ganga Reddy allegedly abused him and warned to send him behind bars.

The incident again intensified his animosity toward Ganga Reddy and he decided to kill him, the SP said.

As part of his plan, Santhosh came to the village in a rented car along with a knife and waited for the opportunity.

While Ganga Reddy was traveling on his motorcycle, the accused followed him in the car and hit the bike from behind causing Ganga Reddy to fall. As the deceased tried to get up, Santhosh took a knife from the car and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, neck and other parts. When some of the villagers arrived at the scene, the accused fled the spot leaving his mobile and car at the scene itself.

While fleeing, his movement was recorded in the CCTV cameras installed at the village road.

Based on a complaint lodged by Maru Laxmi, wife of Ganga Reddy, police registered a case and began investigation. On Friday, the accused was arrested and produced before court.