Habitual offender hacks 17-year-old visually-impaired girl to death in Andhra Pradesh

Tension also prevailed at the mortuary of the government general hospital as the family members of the victim staged a sit-in demanding stern action against Raju.

Raju was booked under Sections 354 (assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures) and 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC and Section 12 (sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act.

What happened?

“Two police cases had been registered against the accused Kukkala Raju in the past. Both the family members of the deceased and the accused are neighbours for the past few years. On Sunday evening Raju misbehaved with the deceased,” said DSP M Rambabu.

“Later, the girl’s family members warned the accused about his indecent behaviour. The accused killed the minor girl under the influence of alcohol keeping that quarrel in mind,” Rambabu added.

The police officer said that government doctors have confirmed there was no sign of rape on the deceased.

Raju allegedly inappropriately touched the victim while her parents were away at work on Sunday evening.

When the parents returned home, the minor girl told them about her ordeal. The outraged parents went to his house and demanded an explanation for his actions against the visually-impaired girl.

However, Raju denied the allegations against him. Within minutes, however, he got into a rage and hacked the girl to death with an axe while under the influence of alcohol.

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‘Brought dead’ to hospital

While the girl was immediately taken to the government general hospital, doctors said she was brought dead.

Raju fled the scene after the incident. However, he later surrendered before the police.

Police also said that the accused has a criminal record and his wife had abandoned him because she could no longer bear his activities.

Andhra Pradesh State Mahila Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma visited the government general hospital and consoled the family members of the deceased minor girl.

She also promised the family members justice.

The government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the family of the deceased.