Hyderabad, Sep 16 (IANS): A sub-inspector of police committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district. His family members, however, said that he was murdered.

The body of Ramesh was found hanging from a tree near Kandanelli village in Pedamul mandal, about 75 km from Hyderabad.

He was working at the Yalal police station in the same district and was married last year.

According to police, Ramesh on Tuesday night sent a SMS to his wife which read "Kandanelli (tamarind tree)". Another SMS said "forgive". Geeta, who is four month pregnant, alerted police who reached the village and found Ramesh's body hanging from the tree.

Ramesh earlier worked as SI at Pedamul police station for a year and was transferred to Yalal three months ago.

Family members alleged that Ramesh was murdered and hanged from a tree. They claim that he had no problems in the family and he was also not a coward to commit suicide.

The body was shifted to government-run hospital at Tandur town for autopsy. The family members of the deceased stopped state Transport Minister Mahender Reddy who came there to see the body, and demanded a judicial probe into his death.