Hyderabad: Moinabad police arrested four persons, including the victim’s elder brother, in connection with the murder of advocate Gotika Swapna, which police said stemmed from a long-standing land dispute.
Police identified the accused as Gotike Raju, Errolla Sandeep, Vadde Veeresh, and Kavali Shiva Lingam. Investigators said the accused conspired to kill Swapna to gain control over four acres of ancestral land in Survey No. 339 at Kethireddypally village.
According to police, the murder occurred on February 4 at around 9.30 a.m. Swapna, a practising advocate at the Chevella Court, visited the disputed land along with her mother, Gotika Venkatamma, for a survey. While they were returning, the accused allegedly rammed her with a vehicle, causing her to fall into a pit.
Murder of advocate Swapna planned over four-acre property
Police said the attackers then assaulted Swapna with sticks and stones and later slit her throat with a knife. She died on the spot despite her mother’s attempts to intervene and save her.
Investigators stated that the accused arrived at the scene in an Innova car and a scooty, carrying weapons, including a sickle. After confirming her death, they fled the area. Police later seized the Innova vehicle, the scooty, four mobile phones belonging to the accused, and the weapon used in the crime.
The arrests were made under the guidance of G. Sudheer Babu and supervised by Yogesh Gautam, B. Kishan, and G. Pavan Kumar Reddy, along with their teams.
Police said further investigation into the murder of advocate Swapna was in progress.