Chirala rape-murder case: 3 held within 48 hours of crime

Amaravati: The Chirala police have taken into custody three persons involved in the alleged sexual assault and murder of a woman in Chirala of Bapatla district. The accused were arrested within 48 hours of the incident.

On June 21, a 21-year-old woman was found dead near a railway track at Sitarampuram area in Epurupalem village. The woman who had gone to attend nature’s call between 5:30 am and 5:45 am did not return home, prompting her family members to launch a search for her.

Speaking to the media, the superintendent of police of Bapatla Vakul Jindal, said that the prime accused – Vijay and Mahesh – in an inebriated state found the woman alone near the railway track, sexually assaulted and smothered her to death. The third accused Srikanth was held for assisting both accused and providing a stay for them.

The SP said that cases are registered under Sections 302 and 376 IPC against the accused. Under the instructions of the chief minister, the home minister and the DGP, the police formed 10 special teams to trace the accused, the SP said. Based on all the evidence collected, an FIR will be filed and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the accused are punished severely, Vakul Jindal said Several other cases are also pending against the accused, he added.

CM Chandrababu ordered swift action

Taking serious note of the incident, chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed his anger at the rape and murder of the young woman and ordered the director general of police (DGP) Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, to enquire into the incident. The CM has been monitoring the progress through the DGP and directed the police to act sternly against those involved in such atrocities against women.

Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi visited Chirala and met the family members of the victim. She announced Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia to the affected family members and 10 different teams were formed to nab the accused under the direct supervision of the DSP.

The chief minister also directed the DGP to focus on the crime committed by abusing ganja and drugs. The chief minister has decided to soon take a decision to reshuffle the police setup in the State completely.