Rape-Murder Accused Found Dead On Railway Track After Encounter Threat

Hyderabad: Two days after an encounter threat, the only suspect in the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl at Saidabad, Pallakonda Raju was found dead on the railway tracks near Station Ghanpur in Jangoan district of Telangana, 130 km from here.

He had been missing since the child’s body was found inside his home on Sunday. The 30-year-old was her neighbour. The victim’s mother suspected him to be the culprit as he was missing from his house.

“It is true that the accused has died. I will have to ascertain more details with the police personnel concerned. I am told that the police were chasing him and not heeding the warning, he jumped in front of a train. Once all details are ascertained it will be shared with the media,” Hyderabad East Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) told The News Minute.

Police suspect it to be a case of suicide. The Telangana police shared images of the man’s body on Twitter.

“We have reasons to think it is the suspect – tattoo marks on hands, name tattooed on his hand, his hairstyle…A fingerprint analysis will confirm it,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar told NDTV.

A massive manhunt was launched for Raju and the Hyderabad city police had also announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakh for any information leading to his arrest. Posters declaring Raju a ‘WANTED’ man were pasted on autorickshaws, buses, at toddy compounds, wine shops and all public places across the state, The Hindu reported.

Notably, Telangana Minister Malla Reddy on September 14 had told reporters: “We will catch the rapist and murderer. There will be an encounter after he is caught.”