The accused dragging the victim after murdering her grandmother-maternal grandmother (in inset).
The main accused in the murder of six people in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district, P. Rajkumar, was found dead on Monday. His body was recovered from the Kothur police station limits, with a bottle of pesticide found nearby. Police suspect he died by suicide after consuming poison, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the investigation.
Rajkumar had been booked under the POCSO Act in May for allegedly harassing a minor girl. Police said that, allegedly seeking revenge over the case, he killed the girl, her grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as his wife and two sons on the night of July 10. He had been absconding since the murders.
The accused murdered the victim at this very spot, just a short distance from home.
The accused’s house, where he murdered his wife and two sons on the night of July 10th itself.
Committed the massacre immediately after being released on bail
Police said that a case was registered against Rajkumar under the POCSO Act in May this year for stalking and harassing a minor girl. This complaint was filed by the girl’s grandmother and maternal grandmother. He was arrested in this case and had come out on bail on July 8.
The accused reached the girl’s house on Friday night (July 10) and murdered her mother and grandmother by slitting their throats. After this, he dragged the victim to a nearby forest and murdered her too by stabbing her with knives.
After this, the accused reached his home and fled after murdering his wife Sarita and two sons by slitting their throats. In about half an hour, he had committed these six murders.
The accused’s wife (left) and the victim with her grandmothers.
Informed his father about the incident over phone
Immediately after the murder incident, the accused called his father and confessed to the crime. According to police, he had told his father that he would now take his own life as well. After this, he switched off his mobile phone.
The accused’s parents had informed the police about the incident. After this, Rajkumar absconded. The Telangana Police had formed 14 special teams to search for him and launched a large-scale operation. The next day after absconding, he was spotted in an auto near the railway station. Police were also searching for him in nearby districts.
Rangareddy police held a press conference after the accused’s body was found.
Pesticide bottle found near the body
Police had conducted extensive searches in hotels, lodges and dhabas on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway looking for him. During this investigation, locals found Rajkumar’s body in Penjrala on Monday.
According to police, some locals had informed Dial-100 that a man’s body was lying in the area. Police reached the spot and called the family members, who identified the body as that of 35-year-old Rajkumar.
Police officials said that foam was coming out of his mouth and a pesticide bottle was found near the body, which suggests suicide in the preliminary investigation.
