Date:01/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/01/stories/2004070108180400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Manohar remanded till July 14

By Our Staff Reporter

Y. Manohar being produced before the media in Vijayawada on Wednesday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VIJAYAWADA, JUNE 30. Y. Manohar, who was remanded to judicial custody till July 14 by the Third Metropolitan Magistrate of Vijayawada on Wednesday in the murder case of Sri Lakshmi, said the attack on the MCA student was an outcome of rivalry among students. Manohar said he had "planned to inflict knife injuries on the girl so that the scars and the trauma remain etched in the mind of Sri Lakshmi forever.''

The court premises was packed to capacity, as Manohar, who was chained, was led before the Magistrate, Ramgopal. Sensing that the angered crowd could have a go at Manohar, armed police contingents took positions almost everywhere, to tackle any untoward incident.

Moments before Manohar was to be taken to the court, the police allowed a large contingent of media personnel to have a word with him at the Armed Reserve Headquarters.

The clean-shaven Manohar spoke falteringly and his narration was somewhat incoherent. He maintained that he had no intention of killing Sri Lakshmi. Neither was the attack provoked by unrequited love. "I had no intention of killing her. I just wanted to inflict her with multiple injuries so that the scars and the trauma remains etched in her memory forever,'' Manohar recounted when asked about the motive for the attack.

He said the murder was a sequel to group politics within the Sarada College. He said Sri Lakshmi belonged to the rival group and there were several day-to-day incidents in the college which widened their differences. The accused alleged that he wanted to strike a rapprochement with Sri Lakshmi, but two of her friends prevented her from doing so. He also alleged that, instigated by her two friends, Sri Lakshmi implicated him in false police cases which provoked him to "teach her a lesson''.

Manohar admitted that he was addicted to liquor and "carried out the murder in an inebriated'' state of mind. Even as mediapersons tried to grill him further, the police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, P.J. Victor, whisked him away on the plea that he needed to be produced in the court.

Kin arrested

Manohar's cousin, V. Uma Maheswari, and aunt, C. Varalamma, were also arrested on charges of `trying to conceal evidences'. The police declared that they would seek a police remand of the arrested to complete the investigation.