Telangana: Rajalingamurthy killed in connection with land dispute, say Bhupalpally police

According to Bhupalpally SP Kiran Khare, there was a dispute between the 50-year-old Rajalingamurthy and the accused over one-acre land situated opposite the Bhupalpally police station

Jayashankar Bhupalpally: Drawing curtains to the controversy surrounding activist Rajalingamurthy’s murder, the Bhupalpally police said he was killed in connection with a land dispute.

The Bhupalpally police presented the seven accused before the media on Sunday and said three others were absconding. According to Bhupalpally SP Kiran Khare, there was a dispute between the 50-year-old Rajalingamurthy and the accused over one-acre land situated opposite the Bhupalpally police station. Both parties had even approached the court in this regard.

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The prime accused in the case, Sanjeev, used to frequently argue with his family members alleging that Rajalingamurthy had got the land ownership in his name by deceit. He bore a grudge against Rajalingamurthy and even informed his family members that he would eliminate him.

Sanjeev hatched a plan and sought the help of close relatives to eliminate Rajalingamurthy. He also offered to share the disputed land among themselves after the issue was addressed. The accused also discussed the plan with former Municipal Vice Chairman Kotha Haribabu, who in turn supported him and assured him that he would bear the bail and other expenditures.

As per the plan, Sanjeev and More Kumar purchased two knives and a rod from Kashi Buggarameshwaram in Warangal and kept them at Sanjeev’s house. On February 19, Sanjeev noticed Rajalingamurthy at the court and immediately called his relatives and vowed to eliminate him the same day.

Accordingly, Dasari Krishna and Naresh were asked to track Rajalingamurthy’s movements. Then Sanjeev, Kothuri Kiran, More Kumar and Babbulu took the knives and rod from Sanjeev’s house and waited at Rajalingamurthy’s house. At around 6.45 pm. Rajalingamurthy was heading to his home on a two-wheeler from Ambedkar Centre.

As Rajalingamurthy was taking a turn in the lane towards his house, the accused threw chilli powder into his eyes and attacked him with knives and rod. As he was brutally stabbed in the stomach, Rajalingamurthy died on the spot with grievous injuries, the police said.

Immediately, Sanjeev and Babbulu using a two-wheeler headed towards Shyamnagar stage on the Parakala route. Noticing his relative, Kalvala Srinivas, Sanjeev took his mobile and made a call to Kotha Haribabu and informed him about the murder.

As the accused were trying to escape, the police, based on credible information, nabbed them at Five Incline Checkpost at 6.45 pm. During the investigation, the accused admitted to having committed the crime and police recovered two knives, one rod, seven mobiles and five two-wheelers, besides blood stained clothes. Special teams have been formed to nab the three absconding accused, including Kotha Haribabu, Pulla Naresh and Pulla Suresh, the police informed.