Hyderabad Cousin Murder: Missing Complaint Turns into Grisly Property Dispute Killing
In a shocking twist to a missing person case in Hyderabad, a man who initially reported his cousin as missing has now been identified as her alleged killer. The 42-year-old victim, Leela Devi, who operated a grocery store in Abdullapurmet, was brutally murdered, with her body dismembered and discarded in a water body at Masjidpur village in Abdullapurmet, all stemming from a bitter property dispute.
From Missing Complaint to Murder Investigation
The case unfolded when Abdullapurmet police received a complaint on March 8 from Pappuram Kumavath, claiming his cousin Leela Devi had been missing since February 28. However, during the initial investigation, police grew suspicious as Pappuram provided inconsistent statements. Upon further interrogation and with the aid of technical evidence, Pappuram confessed to the crime, revealing he had conspired to kill his cousin over a plot of land.
Pappuram, who worked at Leela Devi's grocery store, admitted to the murder, leading police to recover her decomposed body parts—two legs and the remaining torso—at the water outlet of Pedda Cheruvu on Tuesday. The alleged culprit and his two aides were subsequently arrested on Wednesday.
Property Dispute Fuels Fatal Conflict
According to Abdullapurmet inspector V Ashok Reddy, the root cause of the murder was a property dispute. A few years ago, Leela Devi and Pappuram had jointly purchased a 120 square yard plot by pooling their money, but the property was registered solely in Pappuram's name. Recently, Leela Devi had been insisting that her name be added as a joint owner, which allegedly upset Pappuram and drove him to commit the heinous act.
To carry out the crime, Pappuram enlisted the help of two accomplices: Rakesh, another employee of the grocery store who was dissatisfied with Leela Devi's strict management, and Sunil, who runs an eatery and had a strained relationship with the woman. Both Rakesh and Sunil have also been arrested in connection with the murder.
Grisly Details of the Murder
The investigation revealed that Leela Devi was killed on February 28, with Pappuram allegedly striking her on the head with a stick. Two days later, the trio transported her body to Pedda Cheruvu, where they used a chainsaw to dismember it. They then dumped the body parts at the water outlet, hoping they would be washed away, but this did not occur, allowing police to recover the remains.
This case highlights the severe consequences of property disputes and underscores the importance of thorough police work in uncovering the truth behind seemingly straightforward missing person reports.
