Amaravati, February 18: A suspect in the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl was found dead in a lake in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district on Wednesday. The 30-year-old suspect, Kulavardhan, had escaped police custody on Tuesday while being transported in a police vehicle.
District Superintendent of Police K. Dheeraj informed reporters that a search was initiated immediately after his escape. Kulavardhan’s body was discovered in a lake in the village of Kanasanipalli. Initial investigations suggest that he may have committed suicide. The police have notified his family about the incident.
Local residents spotted the body and alerted the police. It has been sent to the government hospital in Madanapalle for a post-mortem examination.
Earlier, the body of the seven-year-old girl was found in a drum at Kulavardhan’s home. The child, a student in the second grade at a school in Madanapalle, had gone missing while playing near her home during school holidays.
Her parents, who were at work, began searching for her when she did not return home in the evening. After failing to locate her, they filed a missing person report with the police. Given Kulavardhan’s criminal history, a police officer visited his home for questioning. The door was locked, and no response came when the officer knocked. Peering through a window, the officer saw Kulavardhan asleep inside.
The officer left but returned the next morning after the girl’s grandfather reported that she had last been seen with Kulavardhan. Upon entering the house, police discovered the girl’s body in the drum.
Following the discovery, police arrested Kulavardhan, but he escaped while being taken to the station. The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who are demanding justice for the victim. They staged a protest on the national highway, causing significant traffic disruptions for several hours.
Madanapalle MLA Shahjahan Basha expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He spoke with the victim’s parents by phone, assuring them of full support from the government.
Police Deputy Inspector General Koya Praveen stated that the post-mortem and preliminary investigation revealed that Kulavardhan had raped the girl and then brutally drowned her in a water drum. Charges of rape, murder, and violations under the POCSO Act have been filed against him. Kulavardhan had a prior case registered against him under Section 324, which was resolved through a compromise in a Lok Adalat.
Local residents reported that he frequently consumed alcohol and behaved inappropriately towards others.
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