Woman advocate murdered by brother over property dispute in Moinabad
A 34-year-old woman advocate was allegedly murdered by her brother during a property dispute at Moinabad in Rangareddy district. The killing triggered protests by lawyers, who boycotted courts and blocked a highway demanding swift arrest and justice.
Hyderabad: A bitter family dispute over ancestral property turned deadly on Wednesday, when a 34-year-old woman lawyer was allegedly murdered by her own brother in Moinabad in Rangareddy district, triggering widespread outrage among the legal community.
The victim, Swapna, was a practising advocate at the Chevella court. The incident occurred at Kethireddypally village when she had visited a farmland where discussions were reportedly underway to settle a long-pending dispute over agricultural land within the family.
According to police officials, tensions had been continuing between Swapna and her brother Raju over the division of a 10-acre ancestral property for the past few years. Their mother had earlier divided the land, allotting a larger share to the son and a smaller portion to the daughter. However, unhappy with the arrangement and suspecting that his sister intended to sell part of her share, Raju reportedly confronted her at the site.
What began as an argument soon escalated into violence. He, along with a group of persons, allegedly attacked Swapna with a knife and sticks, inflicting fatal injuries on her neck and head. She collapsed at the spot and was rushed to a nearby private hospital by locals, where doctors declared her dead.
Police believe the murder was not impulsive but the outcome of a prolonged dispute. Swapna had earlier approached the court by filing civil cases related to the property, which further strained relations within the family.
The Moinabad police, who are investigating the case, have taken five persons, including the main suspect, into custody for questioning even as efforts continue to trace another suspect who is absconding. Special teams have been formed to reconstruct the sequence of events and gather forensic evidence.
The killing sparked strong protests from advocates across Chevella and surrounding areas. Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and staged demonstrations at the Moinabad police station, demanding immediate arrests and stringent action against those involved. Protesters also blocked the Hyderabad-Bijapur national highway for some time, disrupting traffic.
Senior police officials met representatives of the Bar Association and assured them of swift action and a thorough investigation.
