Degree Student Arrested for Pushing Elderly Woman into Well in Karimnagar
Youth addicted to online betting allegedly plotted robbery to repay loan; police nab accused using CCTV and ride-booking data.
Karimnagar: A 21-year-old degree student was arrested for allegedly robbing and attempting to murder an elderly woman by pushing her into a well on the outskirts of the town. The accused, identified as Damma Dinesh Reddy from Gullapet village in Jagtial district, is a second-year student at a private college in Karimnagar.
According to police, Dinesh Reddy had become addicted to online gaming and betting, incurring losses of nearly ₹4 lakh. Under pressure from loan app operators to repay borrowed money, he allegedly hatched a plan to commit theft.
On July 1, he approached an elderly woman, Gangadhara Lakshmi, at a labour adda, promising to help her find work. He then took her to a secluded area near Nasultapur, robbed her of half a tola of gold and 20 grams of silver, and pushed her into a well before fleeing.
The victim remained trapped in the well for nearly 21 hours before villagers rescued her the next morning and alerted police.
Using CCTV footage and the mobile number linked to a Rapido booking, police traced and apprehended the accused near the Amaraveerula Stupam in Karimnagar. He had reportedly sold the stolen gold to a trader, Venu Manoharachari, at Tower Circle for ₹30,000. Police arrested both the accused and the gold trader.
