10 days, a cremation and a cover-up: Woman’s final video exposes chilling murder plot

VISAKHAPATNAM: The death of 24-year-old woman Dumpala Harini in Sorligam village in the Tekkali area of Srikakulam district has brought to light a disturbing murder that reportedly went undiscovered for about 10 days. Police have arrested three people in connection with the case, including her mother, husband and father-in-law. Investigators said Harini was killed in a brutal manner, after which the incident was allegedly passed off as a natural death caused by cardiac arrest. The accused then cremated her body to destroy evidence.The arrested persons have been identified as Paila Vijaya Kumari (45), Dumpala Balusaku (72) and Dumpala Dantheswara Rao (36). Police also seized an iron rod and four mobile phones from the accused.Harini married Dumpala Dantheswara Rao in October 2020 while she was in the second year of her undergraduate studies. The couple has a four-year-old son.After completing her degree, Harini moved to Hyderabad with her son to prepare for the APPSC Group examinations. However, she later sent her son to her mother Paila Vijaya Kumari’s home in Adarsha Nagar, Hyderabad, as she found it difficult to look after him while studying.She later enrolled at a private coaching centre in SR Nagar, Hyderabad, and stayed in a hostel while preparing for the exams. There, she became friends with Sudha Nagendra, a Hyderabad resident who had also joined the coaching centre.After learning that Harini was getting closer to Nagendra, Vijaya Kumari frequently argued with her. However, Harini approached Balanagar police station in February this year and stated that she intended to separate from her husband and marry Nagendra.Vijaya Kumari and Dantheswara Rao allegedly developed resentment towards Harini over her relationship with Nagendra and decided to kill her. According to police, they asked Harini to visit Sorligam on the pretext of completing divorce-related formalities.Suspecting her mother’s behaviour, Harini sent a selfie video to Nagendra in which she said she was travelling to her hometown and asked him to approach the police if she did not return to Hyderabad by June 5, 2026.Harini arrived in Sorligam with her mother on May 31. On June 1, while Harini was asleep, Vijaya Kumari and Dumpala Balusaku allegedly killed her by striking her on the head with an iron rod. They later informed Dantheswara Rao, who had gone to watch a film that night as part of the alleged plan. He arrived at the house shortly after the murder.The trio allegedly wiped bloodstains from the house and the body using a damp cloth. They then arranged the scene to make it appear that Harini had died of cardiac arrest and convinced villagers to accept that version of events.They completed the funeral in the early hours of June 2 and also burnt the bloodstained clothes in an attempt to destroy evidence. However, the crime came to light after Nagendra filed a complaint. The investigation found that Harini had been murdered in a brutal manner, and the three accused allegedly confessed to the crime.