Minor found murdered in neighbour's home in Madanapalle, accused arrested

Madanapalle: Tension prevailed for a while in the town on Tuesday, after a seven-year-old girl who went missing while playing outside her house was found murdered in a neighbour’s home.

The accused has been taken into custody, and a case has been registered under the POCSO Act.

Child goes missing while playing

The victim reportedly went missing on Tuesday evening while playing outside her house.

When she did not return home till late at night, her anxious parents searched the neighbourhood but could not trace her. They later approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Child was strangled to death, says probe

Police teams launched a search operation and grew suspicious of the behaviour of a neighbour. Upon inspecting the house, they discovered the girl’s body stuffed inside a plastic drum.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the child was strangled to death. Police are also probing whether there was any attempt at sexual assault. The body was shifted for a post-mortem.

Accused heavily intoxicated

Police have taken the accused into custody and are questioning him.

According to initial findings, the accused had not consumed drugs or ganja but was heavily intoxicated with alcohol at the time of the crime.

A case has been registered under relevant sections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Officials stated that stringent legal action would be taken and efforts would be made to ensure the accused does not secure bail.

Home Minister reacts

Reacting to the incident, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha described the crime as deeply distressing. She said she had spoken to the victim’s family and assured them of full government support.

The Minister stated that she was alerted to the case after IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh tagged her on social media regarding the incident. She said she immediately spoke to officials and gathered details.

She clarified that while the accused was not under the influence of narcotics, he was found to have consumed excessive alcohol.

She assured that the government is treating the case with utmost seriousness and that strict punishment would be ensured.

Murder sparks protests, highway blocked

The gruesome murder sparked protests in Madanapalle. Local residents demanded that the accused be handed over to them and even called for an encounter.

Tension escalated when police attempted to shift the body for a post-mortem, with protesters obstructing the process.

Demonstrators staged a sit-in on the Chennai–Mumbai National Highway, bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt.

Senior police officials, including the district SP, held discussions with the protesters, urging them not to take the law into their hands and assuring them that the accused would face stringent punishment under the law.

Despite appeals, the situation remained tense for hours before efforts were made to restore normalcy.