Madanapalle, Feb 17: A wave of shock and grief has gripped Madanapalle town in the Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh following the suspicious death of a seven-year-old girl Rishika Priya. The child, who had been reported missing since Monday afternoon, was tragically found dead late last night inside a plastic storage drum in a neighbor’s house.
The victim, identified as the daughter of local residents, went missing while playing near her home. After an exhaustive search by family members and locals proved futile, a formal complaint was lodged with the Madanapalle police. The investigation led authorities to a nearby residence where the gruesome discovery was made.
The body was found stuffed inside a drum, leading investigators to immediately treat the case as a homicide. Initial reports suggest that the victim may have been strangled or smothered, though official confirmation is pending a post-mortem report from the local government hospital.
Police have taken a suspect, identified as Kulavardhan, into custody. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the suspect resided in the house where the body was found and was an acquaintance of the family. The motive behind the brutal killing remains unclear, and authorities are questioning the suspect to determine if there were any signs of sexual assault or personal vendettas involved.
District police officials have deployed additional forces to the area to maintain order as angry locals gathered near the suspect’s residence demanding swift justice. A senior police official stated that a special team has been formed to fast-track the investigation and ensure a water-tight case against the perpetrator.
