Woman lawyer murdered by brother over property dispute in Moinabad

Hyderabad: In a shocking incident stemming from a long-standing property dispute, lawyer Swapna was brutally murdered by her own brother at Ketireddypally village in Moinabad mandal of Rangareddy district.

Police said the crime was premeditated and driven by a dispute over ancestral land. Five persons, including the prime accused, have been taken into custody, while one more suspect is on the run.

Land dispute turns fatal

According to police, Swapna and her brother Raju had been at loggerheads over the division of their family’s agricultural land.

Their mother had earlier distributed the 10-acre property, allotting six acres to Raju and four acres to Swapna. Unhappy with the share given to his sister, Raju frequently picked quarrels with her.

Police said Swapna had already filed two civil cases against her brother over the land dispute, both of which are currently pending in court.

Murder during Land Survey

On Saturday morning, Swapna went to her allotted four-acre land to oversee survey work. Police said Raju came to know that she had entered into an agreement to sell one acre of the land.

This led to a heated argument at the site, which soon escalated into violence.

In a fit of rage, Raju allegedly attacked Swapna with a knife and later smashed her with a boulder, killing her on the spot. Police said three other persons assisted Raju in committing the crime.

Police Action and Investigation

Chevella Deputy Commissioner of Police Yogesh Gautam said the murder was clearly linked to the property dispute. He confirmed that Raju, his driver Ganesh, and three others have been taken into custody for questioning.

“Four special teams have been formed to investigate the case and to trace the absconding accused. We are probing the case from all angles,” the DCP said, adding that Swapna was unmarried.

Mother alleges premeditated plot

The victim’s mother Venkatamma demanded the harshest punishment for those responsible. She alleged that Raju had been plotting to kill Swapna for the past three years and had made earlier attempts on her life.

“She was attacked with sticks and knives after the land survey work. My daughter was brutally murdered. All the accused must be punished severely,” she said.

Local Tension

The murder has triggered outrage and panic in the village, with residents expressing shock over the brutal killing within a family. Police have stepped up security in the area as investigations continue.

Lawyers protest, boycott courts

The murder sparked outrage among advocates at the Chevella court. Lawyers boycotted work on Wednesday and staged a protest in front of the Moinabad police station.

They also held a sit-in on the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway, demanding swift action and justice for their colleague.