India recorded 34,878 cases involving juveniles in conflict with the law in 2024, up 11.2% from 31,365 cases in 2023, according to NCRB data. Police apprehended 42,633 juveniles that year.
In Telangana's Nalgonda district, two Class 10 students have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of their school principal, K Roopa Reddy.
Reddy was found dead at her home on 12 August, a day after the alleged attack. Police said she had been stabbed 27 times.
The investigation then turned on a final phone conversation, CCTV footage and cash allegedly recovered from the students. Police also said they recovered Reddy's iPhone and other items they believe were connected to the alleged crime.
Here is how investigators say the case unfolded.
What Happened To The Nalgonda School Principal?
K Roopa Reddy was the principal and director of Nagarjuna Grammar Concept School in Kondamallepally, Nalgonda.
According to police, Reddy was attacked at her home on the evening of 11 August. Her husband was in Hyderabad and became concerned when she stopped answering his calls. He alerted neighbours, who then informed the police.
Reddy was found dead the following morning. Police said she had suffered 27 stab wounds.
Police formed multiple teams to investigate the case and examined CCTV footage, forensic evidence, fingerprints, technical data and the movements of people connected to the school.
According to the Nalgonda police account, investigators examined around 70 CCTV cameras and questioned people as they tried to reconstruct what happened.
The investigation eventually turned towards the school and its students.
Why Did The Two Students Allegedly Target Roopa Reddy?
Police suspect that money and resentment were among the factors behind the alleged attack.
The two boys were Class 10 students at the same school. Police said one of them had previously stayed in the school hostel.
According to the police account, Reddy had earlier found cash and a mobile phone in the student's bag. She reprimanded him and informed his parents. He was subsequently moved from the hostel and became a day scholar.
Police suspect that the incident contributed to resentment towards Reddy. Investigators also said the students were interested in spending money and had been looking for ways to make money.
Police further alleged that the students believed cash connected to school fee collections was kept at Reddy's home.
Investigators said the alleged plan was made several days before the murder and that the students conducted a recce of the area around the house.
How Was The Murder Allegedly Carried Out?
Police allege that the two students went to Reddy's house on the evening of 11 August wearing masks.
According to investigators, one student entered the house while the other remained outside.
Police said one of the masks slipped during the incident, allowing Reddy to recognise the student.
Investigators allege that the student then attacked her with a knife because he feared she could identify him.
Reddy was stabbed 27 times, according to the police account. The students allegedly took cash and her phone before escaping from the property.
Police later recovered several items they believe were connected to the alleged crime, including the knife, an iPhone, mobile phones, gloves and masks.
The students are accused of attempting to dispose of some of the evidence after the incident.
How Did Police Trace The Two Students?
One of the clues came from Reddy's final phone conversation.
Police said Reddy used the word “Babu” during the conversation. Investigators then examined how she addressed students at the school and considered whether the word could help them identify people who had interacted with her.
The clue was considered alongside other evidence rather than being treated as proof by itself.
The school was closed for several days after the murder. When it reopened, police questioned students who had been absent.
According to the Nalgonda police account, investigators questioned students who had been absent, including Class 10 students. Two students came under particular suspicion after police noticed that they were allegedly spending money more freely following the murder.
CCTV footage was then used to help investigators track their movements.
On 19 August, police intercepted the two students near Doniyala X Road while they were travelling on a motorcycle.
Police said they recovered Rs. 1.54 lakh in cash from the accused. Investigators also said three Rs. 500 notes had bloodstains and that forensic testing identified the blood as Reddy's.
Police also said they recovered an iPhone belonging to Reddy, the alleged murder weapon, gloves, masks and mobile phones.
The recovery of these items, along with the CCTV footage and other evidence, formed part of the case against the two students.
Police said the students made statements during questioning that implicated them in the crime. Those statements are part of the investigation and will have to be considered alongside the other evidence in the case.
What Legal Action Has Been Taken Against The Students?
Nalgonda police arrested the two Class 10 students on 19 August in connection with Reddy's alleged murder.
Because the accused are minors, they were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, according to police.
The case will therefore proceed under India's juvenile justice framework. Any further legal action will depend on the proceedings before the relevant authorities and the evidence placed before them.
The students should be referred to as accused, rather than convicted offenders, as the case is still at the investigation and legal proceedings stage.
TL;DR | News At Glance
What happened?
K Roopa Reddy, principal and director of Nagarjuna Grammar Concept School in Nalgonda, was found dead at her home on 12 August. Police said she had suffered 27 stab wounds.
Who has been arrested?
Two Class 10 students from the same school have been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.
Why were they allegedly targeting her?
Police suspect money and resentment were factors. Investigators said one student had previously been reprimanded after cash and a mobile phone were found in his hostel bag.
How was the alleged attack carried out?
Police said the students went to Reddy's home wearing masks. One allegedly entered the house while the other remained outside. Investigators allege that Reddy recognised one of them after his mask slipped.
What helped police trace them?
Investigators examined Reddy's final phone conversation, CCTV footage and the behaviour of students after the murder. Police said the students were also found to be spending money unusually.
What was recovered?
Police said they recovered Rs. 1.54 lakh, an iPhone belonging to Reddy, the alleged murder weapon, gloves, masks and mobile phones. Police also said three Rs. 500 notes had bloodstains that forensic testing linked to Reddy.
What happens next?
The two accused, being minors, were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. The case will proceed under the juvenile justice system.
