Telangana students arrested for murder of school principal

Police in Nalgonda, Telangana, have arrested two 16-year-old Class 10 students for the brutal murder of their school principal, Kallu Roopa Reddy. The victim, a director and principal at Nagarjuna Public School, was found dead in her home on August 12 with 27 stab wounds.

Investigators believe the attack was a premeditated robbery motivated by a grudge. One student had previously been reprimanded by Reddy for possessing unauthorized cash and a mobile phone at the school hostel. The suspects allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the home before entering to steal money.

A key breakthrough in the investigation occurred when police analyzed the victim’s final phone call to a relative. During the attack, Reddy reportedly uttered the word ‘babu’—a term she commonly used to address her students—which helped investigators focus on the school community.

Authorities also identified the suspects after noticing them spending large sums of money and hosting parties shortly after the crime. Police recovered approximately ₹1.5 lakh in cash and an iPhone from the students, noting that forensic tests confirmed human blood stains on the currency notes.