Chittoor police solve six-year-old girl’s murder case, three arrested

CHITTOOR: Police have solved the case involving the murder of a six-year-old girl in Punganur, Chittoor district.

Addressing the media, Chittoor District Superintendent of Police (SP) Manikanta Chandolu stated that financial disputes were found to be the motive behind the killing.

According to the SP, the girl's father had lent Rs 3.5 lakh to a woman. When she failed to repay the debt, he reportedly insulted her and threatened to file a case in civil court. Angered by these threats, the woman sought revenge against the man. She lured the girl, who was playing near her home, by inviting her inside for a meal. Subsequently, with the help of her mother and a minor boy, she allegedly suffocated the child by covering her nose and mouth.

After committing the murder, the suspects transported the girl’s body on a bike and dumped it in a summer storage reservoir. The suspects, identified as Reshma, her mother Haseena, and a minor boy named Akhil, have been arrested. The police indicated that the girl was killed on the same day she was reported missing and her body was later disposed of in the reservoir.

The police confirmed that there were no external injuries found on the child's body. Commenting on the incident, Chittoor District Collector Sumit Kumar noted that an investigation had been initiated immediately after learning about the girl’s disappearance. He commended the police for arresting the accused based on solid evidence.

The district collector also expressed his displeasure with sections of the media for irresponsible reporting. He criticized some channels for spreading misinformation regarding the child's death and for violating norms by revealing the child's name and broadcasting her photos. He urged the media to exercise caution and act responsibly in such sensitive cases.