Tatika Narayana Rao, accused of attempting to rape a minor girl, allegedly jumped into Komati Cheruvu lake after asking police for a toilet break.
TUNI: pe’ case, Tatika Narayana Rao of Tuni, ended his life by jumping into Komati Cheruvu near Jadla beedu in Kakinada district on Wednesday night, police have claimed.
Police claim Rao jumped into the lake around 10.30 pm when they were taking him to a magistrate. However, his family suspects he died of police torture in the Tuni police lock-up.
The rape-victim was a 13-year-old. The girl was staying and studying in a social welfare hostel. Narayana Rao took her from the hostel on Wednesday to a garden in Thondangi mandal and attempted to rape her. Some people noticed it and reprimanded him. Later, the accused was beaten by the girl’s family members. Subsequently, the police took him into custody, it is learnt.
Rural CI Chenna Kesava Rao explained, “After a medical examination, we were escorting him to be presented before the magistrate between 10 pm and 10.30 pm. The accused asked me on the way to stop the police jeep for a toilet break. When the jeep was halted, he jumped into the lake. We informed higher officials about the incident between 11 pm and 11.30 pm.”
“Fire department teams were immediately deployed and search operations continued till 12.30 am. The operations were suspended due to darkness and poor visibility. The search resumed on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the body floated on the pond. We sent the body for post-mortem,” police said.
The family members of Narayana Rao expressed doubts about the cause of death. His son Suresh and daughter-in-law sat in front of the ambulance and demanded that the police reveal the facts.
Suriesh said the police came to him on Wednesday night and sought signatures about the arrest of his father Narayana Rao. Suresh told them he would sign it the next morning. But the police exerted pressure on him and took the signature.
However, on Thursday morning, the police informed him and his family members about the death of Narayana Rao. The son demanded that the police disclose the CC camera details of Narayana Rao from the Tuni police station to the magistrate court.
It is learnt that the accused belonged to the Telugu Desam and worked with the SC Cell. He reportedly had two wives. Police said the body was handed over to the family members after post mortem, and that it was cremated.
