Nalgonda : A term used by Roopa Reddy, a school principal in Telangana’s Nalgonda district, while addressing students ultimately helped police identify her alleged killers. Two Class 10 students have been detained for allegedly stabbing Reddy 27 times. The investigation has since revealed a disturbing sequence involving resentment, a recce of her house and blood-stained currency notes.
The breakthrough came from Roopa Reddy’s conversation with her aunt over the phone sometime around the time of her murder. While the police haven’t said exactly at what point the phone call took place, they revealed that during the conversation, she had addressed someone as “Babu”. Investigators learnt that this was a term she commonly used while addressing students at the school. That detail prompted police to look closely at students who had been absent from school around the time of the murder.
The blood on the currency notes was confirmed to be that of Roopa Reddy, which turned the minors into prime suspects. Investigators then began piecing together their possible motive and movements before the murder. One of the minors had earlier stayed in the school hostel and was reportedly fond of alcohol and motorcycles. Roopa Reddy had allegedly found cash and a phone in his bag. She reprimanded him and later shifted him from the hostel to day-scholar status.
Five days before Roopa Reddy was killed, he allegedly conducted a recce of her house. Police said he had learnt that money from school fee collections could be kept at the residence, making it a potential target. On August 11, Roopa Reddy returned home from school. Police allege that the two minors then scaled the compound wall, entered the house wearing masks and attacked her. But during the assault, one of the accused allegedly lost his mask. Police believe that allowed Roopa Reddy to recognise him.
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