Date:13/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121350530100.htm

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Acid attack: three persons arrested

Staff Reporter

WARANGAL: After 48 hours of the acid attack on two KITS students, the district police produced before the media the prime accused Shakamuri Srinivasa Rao and his two associates here on Friday.

Superintendent of Police V. C. Sajjanar said the three were apprehended around 4 p.m. while hiding in the fields in Jakkaloddi village on the Khammam road. Besides Rao (25) of Balasamudram, Potharaju Hari Krishna (24) of Shivanagar and Bajjuri Sanjay (22) of Shambunipet, degree students of Masterji College, were arrested. The SP said the trio admitted to having committed the crime.

According to Rao, they stole a two-wheeler from the KITS College, belonging to Vamshi. Sanjay was driving the vehicle while Rao sat in the middle and Hari Krishna sat behind him.

Both threw acid on the girls, K. Swapnika and T. Praneetha.

The young men said they selected an isolated spot near Ramaram village, close to KITS. After the attack, they moved to the Advocates Colony. Later, Rao went to Hyderabad. “I returned today and we met in the field belonging to Hari Krishna to discuss financial dealings between us,” he said.

Mr. Sajjanar said that during interrogation, Rao confessed that he bore a grudge against Swapnika, as she refused to love him. He was angry when he learnt she was seeing another boy named Karthik.

Rao hatched a plan along with two classmates of his brother, Sivaprasad. He purchased sulphuric acid from Rekha Surgical Stores on Vijaya Talkies Road.

The three practised for a month at their homes targeting a pole with a water container so as not to miss the target. Rao’s motive was to disfigure Swapnika so that none would be close to her, according to SP. The accused would be produced in a court soon.