Andhra Pradesh: Suspect in rape & murder of 7-year-old girl found dead in pond

The suspect was being taken to the police station, when he escaped from the vehicle. During manhunt, police found his body in a nearby pond.

A suspect in a rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide, and was found dead in a nearby pond in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Annamayya district SP, K Dheeraj said that the second-grade student, daughter of a local handloom worker, in Kanasanivaripalle of Kurabalakota Mandal, Annamayya district, went missing on Monday afternoon while playing near her home during a Shivaratri school holiday. Her parents, who had been away at work, launched a search upon returning. Later, when they failed to find her, filed a missing person complaint with Madanapalle police.

The police, with the help of CCTV footage suspected in on neighbor K Kulvardhan, a 30-year-old man with a prior criminal record. During a search at his house, police uncovered the girl's body, stuffed inside a drum. The cops suspected she had been raped and strangled.

The incident led to a public outrage, with family members and locals demanding custody of Kulvardhan. They staged a sit-in protest, blocking the National Highway for hours on Tuesday evening. They dispersed only after Annamayya District SP K Dheeraj assured them the accused would face justice.

As officers transported Kulvardhan to the station Tuesday night, he escaped from the vehicle. A massive manhunt ensued, and early Wednesday, special teams recovered his body from a pond in Kanasanivaripalle village. Initial findings pointed to suicide.

Madanapalle MLA Shahjahan Basha expressed outrage, and spoke with the victim's parents. Basha notified the Chief Minister and Home Minister from Amaravati during Assembly sessions and pledged full government support.

A case has been registered for both murder and the suspect's death. Further investigations are underway.