PANAJI
For two Class 10 students from Telangana, a trip to Goa was part of a spending spree that police stated eventually turned into a deadly hunt for cash. About a month after the teenagers travelled to the State, visiting several tourist spots, Telangana police alleged that they broke into their school principal’s home in Nalgonda and killed her after she caught them during the robbery.
The teenagers have been taken into custody for allegedly killing Kallu Rupa Reddy, who was stabbed 27 times. Police suspect the students had targeted her home believing she kept a large amount of money from school-fee collections. “Their Goa trip has emerged as a significant detail in the investigation into their alleged lifestyle. Despite limited means, the students were reportedly spending heavily, consuming alcohol and travelling,” the investigation team told reporters after cracking the case. The probe further revealed that the principal had previously confronted these students after cash and mobile phones were found hidden in their hostel bags. She had raised concerns about their conduct before their parents, following which the students were removed from the hostel and made day scholars.
It is also learnt that the teenagers suspected their victim had substantial cash at home and thus decided to rob her to sustain their lifestyle.
The case reportedly turned on a brief moment during the principal’s final phone call with her aunt. As the attackers entered her house, she was heard saying “babu” before the call abruptly ended. Police said the principal commonly used the word while addressing male students, leading the police team to focus on students connected to the school. “The two boys’ lifestyle change and travel to Goa prompted us to investigate them further. We interrogated them and subsequently arrested the two. We also recovered about Rs 1.54 lakh cash, allegedly stolen from the principal’s house and her iPhone from their possession. The cash had blood stains,” the police said. Being underage, they will face proceedings under the juvenile justice system before the appropriate Juvenile Justice Board.
