Sampath Raj, the National Secretary of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and a prominent lawyer, was found murdered in Andhra Pradesh's Sri Sathya Sai district on Thursday. His body was discovered in a lake in Dharmavaram by local residents who immediately alerted the authorities.
Preliminary reports indicate that unknown assailants killed Sampath Raj and subsequently disposed of his body in the lake's bushes. The police have since moved the body for an autopsy and registered a case to investigate the murder.
Sampath Raj hailed from Yerraguntapalli village in the Dharmavaram mandal and had been a resident of Hindupur for the past two decades. He quickly rose to prominence within the Congress party establishing himself as a dynamic youth leader. At the time of his death, Sampath Raj was serving as the NSUI National Secretary and was in charge of the Kerala region. He had also participated in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.
Reports suggest that Sampath Raj had an ongoing land dispute with another lawyer in Hindupur. He had also recently sent a WhatsApp message to Sri Sathya Sai District Superintendent of Police indicating that his life was in danger. He was last seen with friends in Hindupur until 8 PM on Wednesday night, and by the next day, his lifeless body was found in the Dharmavaram lake.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Srinivas Rao stated that preliminary evidence suggests Sampath Raj was murdered at a different location, and his body was subsequently transported and dumped at the lake. The police are currently exploring all possible angles in their investigation to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators behind this heinous crime.
The Congress party and NSUI have called for a thorough and swift investigation to bring justice to Sampath Raj and his grieving family.
ALSO READ: PM Modi To Embark On Meditation Retreat At Vivekananda Rock Memorial Amidst Tight Security Today