The arrest of a 21-year-old youngster identified as Sachin from Uttar Pradesh led the Metpally police to claim a breakthrough in the June 15 shooting of a woman over a property dispute.
According to police, Gonela Shankar, 38, of Metpally town in Jagtial district, his wife Anusha and a close relative Muthaiah, allegedly plotted to kill Lakshmi, wife of Shankar’s younger brother Rajam, over a long-standing property dispute.
Sachin, who had worked as a JCB operator at Shankar’s farm, was allegedly promised money to carryout the killing and fund his plans to travel abroad. Police seized a country-made pistol and two live cartridges from Sachin.
On June 15, Sachin allegedly shot at Lakshmi while she was asleep on the verandah of her house. The bullet missed the intended target but struck her left cheek. She survived the attack.
The investigation gained a breakthrough when doctors recovered the bullet from her face during surgery. Based on scientific investigation and technical evidence, police uncovered the alleged conspiracy.
The three main accused had already been arrested, while Sachin was traced to Uttar Pradesh and arrested on July 20. He was brought to Metpally on a transit warrant on July 24 and remanded in judicial custody.
Published – July 24, 2026 09:43 pm IST
