Hyderabad: The mother of the 10-year-old girl who was raped by a convict who was released on Friday, said that at about 4.30 pm her daughter had taken Rs 10 from her and gone to a nearby store to purchase a notebook, where Anil was sitting. “He purchased toffees for her and played with her for a few minutes. I saw him but did not object as he was just playing. Later, he took her aside and disappeared. We searched for her and filed a complaint at night,” she said. At around 1 am, Army personnel found the girl’s body on the tracks and alerted the Bolarum police.
An inquiry revealed that the victim’s parents had taken her to the toddy compound at Alwal. While both of them were drinking toddy, Anil called the girl and started talking with her, which the parents ignored.
“He took her with him and after purchasing toffee for her, took her to an isolated place, raped and throttled her and then smashed her head with a stone. He then disposed of the body on the railway tracks to make it an accident. He was heavily drunk and collapsed near the track when police found him,” said North Zone DCP B. Sumathi.
Sources said that Anil told the police that three more people were involved. He told cops that after crushing her face, he continued assaulting her for more than an hour.
“We are checking if more people are involved. Based on the investigation we will proceed,” Ms Sumathi added.
A case of kidnap, rape and murder and under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and under the POCSO Act has been registered. Police is yet to confirm the arrest officially.
Tension in Bolarum police station area
Tension gripped the Bolarum police station area with the girl’s relatives and Kalasiguda residents demanding action against the accused. Rights activists demanded capital punishment for the accused.
The AP Balala Hakkula Sangham demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the victim’s family and called for a bandh of educational institutions.
One of the girl's neighbours said she was more than a daughter to her as she used to come to her home every day and stay till her parents returned from work. “Though I was not related to her she called me Peddamma. He should be immediately hanged,” she said.
Activists said the police failed to reform the accused who was a habitual criminal. "Had the police kept a watch on him after his release from prison, the girl would have been alive,” student activist Krishank Manne said.
Another resident said that despite SHE teams, there is much to be done to protect girls and women. The Balala Hakkula Sangham held the government responsible for the incident.
