Police arrest three for murder of Dalit youth in Jagtial

Despite a rowdy sheet being opened against him in 2022, Mallesh reportedly continued to harass the woman.

Jagtial: Velgatoor police have arrested three persons in connection with the murder of Dalit youth Salluri Mallesh (26), who was stabbed to death on July 17.

The accused — Nainala Raji Reddy, his brother Nainala Malla Reddy, and Harish — were produced before the media by Jagtial DSP Raghuchander during a press conference at the Velgatoor police station on Saturday.

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Mallesh, a resident of Kishanraopet, had allegedly been harassing Raji Reddy’s daughter under the pretext of love. Police had earlier registered cases against both sides. Despite a rowdy sheet being opened against him in 2022, Mallesh reportedly continued to harass the woman.

On July 17, Mallesh went to the woman’s house and allegedly tried to force her to go with him. When she refused, he pelted stones at the house. After being informed by his daughter, Raji Reddy alerted his brother Malla Reddy and Harish, and the trio initially decided to lodge a police complaint.

While Raji Reddy went home to fetch documents related to an earlier case, Malla Reddy and Harish waited at Velgatoor bypass road. According to the police, Mallesh happened to pass through the area. They intercepted him and began thrashing him.

Soon after, Raji Reddy reached the spot. As passersby began to question their actions, the trio bundled Mallesh into an autorickshaw, took him behind an old wine shop, and attacked him with knives. Mallesh died on the spot due to excessive bleeding from multiple injuries.

The accused fled after confirming his death.