Saidabad rape: Now, labour minister Malla Reddy calls for extrajudicial killing of accused

Hyderabad: Even before dust could settle over TRS Minister for IT and MAUD K.T Rama Rao's wrong tweet over Saidabad accused's arrest, Telangana Minister for Labour and Employment Ch Malla Reddy has shot himself in the foot by claiming that the accused in the rape of a six-year-old girl will be eliminated in the encounter.

He made the statement while addressing media about Saidabad rape and murder. The video of the same has now gone viral.

The Minister's comment has drawn flak from several quarters. " To begin with, Minister Malla Reddy should be sacked from the cabinet for assuring extra judicial killing. In addition the Hyderabad Commissioner of police Anjani Kumar, mus answer many questions on the alleged follies of the local police. Further more Congress president and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy was quoted in newspaper saying the rapist should be 'encountered'. This is not only a reflecting on their state of mind or respect for the law, but also reflects the inability of the police to gather evidence and prosecute successfully. According to statistics, hardly 10-15 murder cases in the country get successful conviction. Many forget that there are fast track courts that process the cases quickly, have faith in the judicial process, said said Mohan Guruswamy - Chairman & Founder, Centre for Policy Alternatives and former advisor to the Finance Minister.

Senior Political analyst CR Gowri Shanker added, "As a minister and elected representative he cannot make such statement. He must assure that the Hyderabad police will take stringent action and punish the culprit as per the law. He cannot seek or justify extrajudicial killing. It is a heinous crime and it has to be dealt severely as per the law and ensure gets capital punishment if proved,".

Hyderabad Police announce a reward for Rs 10 lakh for information on rape suspect

The man accused of the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl on Thursday in the Saidabad police station limits is still at large. The police have now announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh to any person who gives information or clues about the accused Pallakonda Raju.

The body of the girl who went missing from her house on Thursday was found in Raju's house in the early hours of Friday. Raju is suspected of having lured the girl by offering her chocolates while she was playing near her house. He reportedly took her to his house, located in the same neighbourhood, where he raped and killed her.

On Tuesday, the police released the description of the accused who is around 30 years old and is 5.9 feet tall. He has long hair which is tied with a rubber band and is wearing a cap and a red scarf around his neck. He has tattoos on both his hands that read "Mounika". The information can be passed to DCP East Zone at 9490616366 and DCP Task Force at 9490616627, the police said.

The Saidabad police have booked a case under Sections 376(1) and 302 for rape and murder. Raju was also booked under the POCSO Act 2012.