Brother suspects foul play in murder

“We suspect that either Neeraja or her family had called him over the phone to their house saying that it was her birthday. They may have attacked him when he went there. The attack might have been planned accordingly. My brother isn't so aggressive to attack or kill someone,” said Narasimhulu who has a tailoring shop in Chevella in Ranga Reddy district.

On Saturday Narasimhulu, his friends and relatives went to the room in Moosapet where Raju lived before his death to inquire about him. He said Raju had two mobile phones. “He had two phones. One is a Samsung Galaxy and the other was kept for his personal contacts. The second one is missing now. We don’t know where it has gone. It will reveal details about the calls he made and received before his death,” Mr Narasimhulu said. He added that Raju left for Neeraja’s house in the morning neatly dressed. Why should a person who wanted to kill do so, he asked. Moreover the sickle he is alleged to have used wouldn’t have been brought by him.

“From where did he get it from? Such things are mostly used by farmers and cattle breeders which Neeraja’s father is. They may have picked it up from their cattle shed and attacked him,” he said, adding that Neeraja had accompanied Raju to their house once.

Another relative of Raju, Mr Venkataiah said, “He never informed his parents or siblings about his affair and promised to get married after his sister’s marriage. Had he told us we would have talked to the girl’s parents.”

Meanwhile, Neeraja alias Krishnaveni, her mother Tulasamma and her cousin Gangadhar are being treated at the Remedy Hospitals in KPHB for multiple injuries. Neeraja has been operated for nerve repair and her condition is stable. Doctors said she had sustained deep injuries and had suffered massive loss of blood. She’s out of danger but kept under observation.