Two minors enrolled in a school in Nalgonda district whose 48-year-old principal was found murdered on August 12 were detained in connection with the case on Wednesday, said police, adding that they were suspected to have committed the murder as part of a planned robbery.
Addressing a press conference, district SP Sarath Chandra Pawar said since both accused would be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
As part of the investigation, the police examined the video footage obtained from around 70 CCTV cameras installed in and around the locality.
“The school remained closed for four days following the murder. After it reopened, police made inquiries about 13 students who were absent... Further probe revealed that two absentee students had suddenly been spending money lavishly for two or three days,” he said.
The police took the two students into custody and questioned them and found ₹1.54 lakh in cash and the victim’s phone with one of them. “The student initially claimed that the money had been given to him by his parents. However, police noticed bloodstains on the currency notes. Samples were sent to a laboratory and were found to be human blood,” the SP said.
The probe revealed that the student who had stabbed the principal had previously been staying in the school hostel. “A few days ago, the principal found some cash and a mobile phone in his bag. She reprimanded him in the presence of his parents and subsequently shifted him from the hostel to day-scholar status,” the SP said.
Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience.
