27-yr-old woman found dead

Kadapa: A 27-year-old woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Mallela village of Tonduru mandal in the district late on Saturday night. The deceased has been identified as V Navatha Reddy, daughter of Siva Reddy and Lakshmi of Dharmapuri town in Anantapur district.

Following information provided by a cattle grazer about a woman lying on the way to Gangamma temple in the village, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. According to the Tonduru circle inspector Sri Ramana, Navatha recently completed MBA in Anantapur.

According to police, the girl went to Prodduturu on December 6 to clear dues of Rs 25,000 to a gold trader from whom her parents purchased gold ornaments worth Rs 3.50 lakh earlier for her soon-to-be performed marriage. After visiting Prodduturu, she did not return home and was found dead on Saturday night.

On the basis of suspicions expressed by her parents, Siva Reddy and Lakshmi, police took into custody an uncle of her. It is alleged that the suspect, though married with children, had been harassing the girl to marry him.

After rejecting his demand, she agreed to marry a man from Dharmavaram, chosen by her parents. The parents alleged that her uncle committed the murder unable to digest the prospect of her marriage with another person. Police sources said he met Navatha while she was returning to her home on December 6 and took her to bushes in an isolated place in Mallela village and killed her.