Prakasam Police Crack Gang Rape And Murder Of Minor Girl

Initially registered under various sections, including the POCSO Act, 2012, the case took a crucial turn after the post-mortem report and final medical opinion confirmed that the girl had been murdered by throttling. Based on this finding, the case was altered to include Section 302 (murder) of the IPC on November 22, 2024.

Following the directions of Prakasam district superintendent of police V. Harshavardhan Raju, further investigation was entrusted to Ongole Rural Circle Inspector N. Srikanth Babu, who constituted a special team to identify the victim and trace the offenders.

By analysing missing person complaints registered across Prakasam and neighbouring districts, the police traced the victim’s mother at Singarayakonda on February 14, 2025. She identified photographs of the deceased and confirmed that the victim was her daughter.

Subsequent investigation using technical, digital and scientific methods led to the identification of three accused: Duddela Chenna Krishna (26), Devaraju Vamsi (26) and Dabbukottu Kotaiah (28), all residents of Vippagunta village in Ponnaluru mandal.

According to police, the accused confessed to taking the minor girl to agricultural fields at Kapil Layout Plots in Doddavarappadu village in Maddipadu mandal, where they forcibly administered alcohol, gang-raped her, and later strangled her to death fearing that she might reveal the crime.

The accused were arrested on Tuesday in the presence of mediators. SP Harshavardhan Raju commended CI N. Srikanth Babu and his team for their meticulous investigation and professional commitment in solving the heinous crime.