Cops Silent On Shabad Killer Arrest

Rajkumar, out on bail in a Pocso case, had hacked six persons, including his wife and two children, in Shabad. The other victims included a minor girl, her mother, grandmother. The members of the minor girl’s family had lodged a complaint against Rajkumar at different locations in Shabad mandal, for harassing her.

While it is suspected that the murders were committed over personal and family dispute, police still remain clueless over the motive behind killing his own family.

Immediately after the murders, Rajkumar is believed to have escaped in a red car. CCTV footage reportedly showed the vehicle heading towards Balanagar. Following up, police traced the car which was found abandoned near Nandigama, close to Kothur. Investigators believe the accused left the vehicle there and escaped towards the nearby railway tracks. It was believed that Rajkumar had rented the car a day before the murders.

A source said search operations were launched across Kothur, Balanagar railway station and surrounding villages. Police also explored the possibility that the accused boarded a train and alerted railway police at multiple stations on both sides to look out for Rajkumar.

Police were also searching lodges, roadside dhabas, railway stations, and Rajkumar’s relatives’ residences in Hyderabad among other places, and also in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, according to reports. Police said his photos had been circulated and a cash reward of `2 lakh announced for anyone providing credible information leading to Rajkumar’s apprehension.

The source added Rajkumar switched off his mobile phone at 11.47 pm on Friday and is suspected to have crossed the Cheguru railway tracks. Rajkumar had allegedly called his father and confessed to the crimes, reportedly telling him that he was going to take his own life, police said, before switching off his phone.

Meanwhile, several videos from the crime scene purported to show seven bricks stacked one above the other. Social media users claimed that the bricks symbolised the six victims, and the seventh brick either marked the accused himself or the minor girl’s father.

The police dismissed such speculation. Future City commissioner Tarun Joshi clarified that the accused had no role in the death of the minor girl's father, who had died of a heart attack four days before the mass murder. The police urged the public not to believe rumours circulating on social media.

Adding to the speculation, several social media posts claimed that Rajkumar had been killed in a police encounter. Senior officers have appealed to the public not to believe or circulate rumours on social media and to rely only on official updates as the investigation continues.

According to reports, Rajkumar’s family members told police that he was addicted to online betting and gambling and had taken loans, which they believed had left him under severe stress. They said he had cleared a large portion of his debts by selling his share of property (land), police said.

During the investigation it was revealed that he had attempted to die by suicide in October last year due to mounting debts.