Nizamabad police nab constable’s murder accused amid encounter rumours

Nizamabad Police have arrested Shaik Riyaz, the prime accused in the murder of constable E. Pramod, amid widespread rumours of an encounter. Officials clarified that Riyaz was caught alive following a tip-off and an altercation in Sarangapur forest, and both he and another injured man were hospitalised.

Nizamabad: Dismissing reports that 24-year-old Shaik Riyaz, the prime accused in the murder of a police constable, was killed in an encounter, Nizamabad Police Commissioner P Sai Chaitanya clarified that the accused was caught alive on Sunday.

Riyaz is accused of killing 42-year-old CCS constable E Pramod on Friday night around 8.30 pm. He had allegedly stabbed the constable in the chest at Vinayak Nagar when the latter was escorting him to the police station on a two-wheeler. Riyaz fled the spot and had been absconding since then.

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Speculation was rife on Sunday that Riyaz had been killed in an exchange of fire with police in the Sarangapur forest area under Nizamabad Town VI limits while trying to escape arrest.

In an official statement, Nizamabad police clarified that there was an altercation between Riyaz and one Asif, during which both sustained injuries after Riyaz attacked him. Acting on a tip-off about his location, police reached the spot and arrested Riyaz. Both men were shifted to the government hospital for treatment, the statement added.

Constable Pramod’s murder had sparked outrage across the police department and among the public. Director General of Police (DGP) B Shivadhar Reddy had directed the Nizamabad Police Commissioner to form special teams to trace and arrest the accused.

Riyaz, a resident of Hashmi Colony, was wanted in several cases, including robbery, dacoity and murder. Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest.