Inter examinee hacked to death in broad daylight

Hyderabad: In a ghastly incident, a 19-year-old student, who was on his way to attend Intermediate Board exam, was hacked to death by four assailants in the middle of the busy Kukatpally highway on Monday.

The incident took place around 8.30 am right opposite to the Kukatpally Traffic police station near Balanagar metro station. The deceased was identified as Sudheer Erragalla, a second-year Intermediate student of Prathiba Junior college, Kukatpally.

On Monday, Sudheer, a resident of Janatha Nagar, Moosapet, went to write his exam on a bike. Two other friends accompanied him to his examination centre. The assailants intercepted their vehicle and knocked them down. Sensing danger, the victim pleaded with them and said that he will come back after giving the exam to settle the matter. But, the miscreants, who wielded machetes, did not yield to his prayers.

Speaking to The Hans India, Sai, who was along with the deceased at the time of the attack, said, “We were coming from Habeebnagar route, they stopped us and knocked us down. Then, they dragged Sudheer. After seeing deadly weapons, Sudheer tried to escape from them.

He initially boarded Kennedy school bus. They pulled him out of the bus. Then again, he started running towards Traffic police station, while he was climbing the divider [at pillar no 33] they attacked him with machetes.” The ghastly crime happened within seconds, “We were too helpless, fearing for life,” he added.

The victim died on the spot due to severe blood loss as a result of deep injuries on head. One machete was pierced deep into the back of his head. The onlookers tried to catch hold of the assailants but they fled, except one, who was identified as Mahesh. 

The locals and traffic constable caught him and handed him over to Kukatpally police. The accused were identified as Mahesh, Teja, Naveen, and Krishna. All of them, including the deceased, were the residents of Janatha Nagar. Mahesh was reportedly in police custody and the remaining three were absconding.

Sudheer and the rival gang had an altercation four days ago over a petty issue. “We have identified the accused and we will catch them very soon,” said V Prasanna Kumar, Inspector of Kukatpally police station. He added that they registered a case under Section 302 IPC.