Date:14/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/14/stories/2008081455630600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ayesha case takes a new turn

Staff Reporter

Youth’s blood samples sent to forensic lab in Hyderabad

The youth, Satyambabu, is being questioned by the police at an undisclosed place
On May 9, another habitual offender, Laddu, was nabbed in connection with the offence

VIJAYAWADA: The seven-month-old murder case of pharmacy student Ayesha Meera in a private ladies hostel at Ibrahimpatnam near here appears to have taken a new turn, with the police reportedly coming to a conclusion that Pidatala Satyambabu, 19, of Anasagaram village near Nandigama, had committed the crime.

Satyambabu, who was taken into custody from his residence at Anasagaram in the early hours of Tuesday, continued to be questioned at an undisclosed place, and the police reportedly sent his blood samples to the A.P. Forensic Science Lab in Hyderabad to match with the samples obtained from the place of offence, which was committed on December 27, 2007. Satyambabu served a six-month imprisonment in Rajahmundry central jail in connection with a theft case and was released recently.

The police earlier arrested Gurvinder Singh alias Bobby alias Laddu, another habitual offender, on May 9, in connection with the same offence. Although Laddu was produced in court, he came out on bail after the police failed to file the charge sheet in the stipulated 90 days.

In respect of Satyambabu, different versions did the rounds. The Nandigama police said he was picked up after inmates of Government Polytechnic for Girls at Nandigama tried to nab a person who entered their premises recently. On the basis of footwear and footprints he left behind, the police picked up Satyambabu from his house and started questioning him.

Agitation

Residents of Anasagaram village sat on an agitation in front of the Tehsildar’s office at Nandigama, demanding his immediate release.