Arrested man confesses to murdering boy

HYDERABAD: Police on Thursday arrested a person, who was involved in killing a boy and burying him in an isolated place. The incident took place at Suraram colony, in Dundigal police station limits. Police said, the accused is the neighbour of the victim and had kidnapped the boy and killed him to extort money from the victim’s father.The accused is Gudla Raju, working with a private firm, resident of Priyanka Nagar, Suraram colony and a native of Hanmanthapur village, Nermetta mandal, Warangal district.On March 18, Dubbaka Ramesh, resident of Priyanka Nagar, Suraram colony, lodged a complaint stating that on March 17, his five-year-old son, Dubbaka Venkatesh had gone out to play and did not return. He had furnished description of his son to the police and they after registering a missing case were investigating.During investigation, look out notices with photographs and messages were sent to all police stations.“While efforts were on to find the boy, the complainant, Dubbaka Ramesh informed the cops that an unknown caller was calling him from different public booths and was demanding Rs 1.5 lakh. Finally, on April 3, the caller asked Ramesh to come to remote place in HMT colony and asked him to keep the ransom amount near a heap of stones.Police sent the complainant to the spot and they remained on the lookout. After reaching the spot, Ramesh kept the amount at the specified place.  The accused who was hiding at the place ran away and the complainant and his relative Madhu noticed him,” police said.Police arrested Gudla Raju and during interrogation, he admitted that he had kidnapped Dubbaka Venkatesh and had later killed him.Police said the accused had come to the city about seven years back to eke out a living. He was working in a private company and was staying at Priyankanagar alongwith his wife and two children, opposite the house of the murdered boy.“During light conversations between neighbours the accused came to know that the complainant was planning to construct a house spending nearly Rs 7 lakh.The accused planned kidnapping of the complainant’s son to extort money.