Madanapalli, Feb 18 – In a swift and dramatic turn of events, the prime suspect in the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday. The accused, identified as Kulavardhan, was discovered near a pond in Kanasanola Palli, Kurabalakota mandal, shortly after the victim’s body was recovered.
The incident came to light after a seven-year-old girl went missing from her home in Neeruguttuvari Palli on Monday evening. Following a search led by the Madanapalli police and a dog squad, the girl’s body was found on Tuesday morning, hidden inside a water drum near the residence of Kulavardhan, a neighbor. Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen confirmed the nature of the crime, stating that the child had been brutally raped and forcibly drowned.
The discovery of the child’s body sparked massive unrest in Madanapalli. Residents and political representatives blocked the Madanapalli-Chennai highway for several hours, demanding immediate justice. The bereaved parents, Gopinath and Swarna Latha, initially refused to hand over the body for post-mortem, demanding that the police hand the accused over to the public. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha spoke with the victim’s father via telephone, offering condolences and promising a thorough investigation. Reports suggest the accused was known to be addicted to ganja and had a history of harassing women in the locality.
While a massive manhunt was launched to apprehend him, Kulavardhan was found dead later that day. His body was located near Angallu, specifically in the Kurabalakota mandal area. While the exact cause of death is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest he may have died while absconding. Police have confirmed that a case was booked under the POCSO Act and that they will continue to investigate all angles to ensure the facts of the case are fully documented.
The girl’s body was eventually moved to the Government General Hospital in Madanapalli for a post-mortem late Tuesday evening after senior police officials, including Kadapa SP Shelke Nachiket Viswanath, persuaded the grieving family and protesters to clear the roads.
