Andhra Engineer, Family Jump Into River, Blame Rifle Shooting Coach In Note

A rifle shooting coach has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a rural engineer and his family, who allegedly jumped into the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month.

The tragedy occurred on the intervening night of August 16 and 17 when the Thillapudi Nookaraju - a Panchayat Raj assistant engineer, his wife Meena, daughter Sowjanya, and 10-year-old grandson jumped into the Godavari River from the road-cum-rail bridge in Rajamahendravaram. While the grandson survived after being rescued by fishermen, Nookaraju and the other two women died.

During the investigation, police recovered a note allegedly written by Nookaraju, linking the rifle shooting coach, Sheikh Sadhik Khan, to the circumstances preceding the deaths. A case was filed against Khan on charges including forcing Nookaraju to convert to another religion, murder and extortion.

Subsequently, Sadhik was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut after a multi-state pursuit.

"It was a very grueling chase across five states," Kakinada District SP Bindu Madhav said, adding that more than 10 police teams were deployed. Investigators reportedly traced Khan's movements despite his avoiding phone use and digital transactions.

Khan was brought to Andhra Pradesh on a transit warrant, officials said.

Police said Khan knew Nookaraju and his family for nearly two years and that he had worked as a rifle-shooting coach at a school attended by the grandson.

Investigators are examining his alleged relationship with the family, his movements after the incident and the claims contained in the notes.

Amid this, former MP Vijayasai Reddy has separately demanded a CBI or NIA probe, alleging a wider conspiracy and international links. 

Reddy alleged that Khan was part of a 10-member group allegedly involved in religious conversions, extortion, gun supply and anti-national activities. He further claimed that the group had targeted around 15 other families in and around Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram.

"Since the activities allegedly extend to other states and countries, this is a fit case to be handed over either to the CBI or the NIA," Reddy said.

Khan is now in police custody for questioning, with investigators expected to reconstruct the events leading to the deaths and examine whether others were involved.

Officials said the investigation has so far not established any link to the alleged 'love jihad'.