Date:17/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081761921000.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Teenaged girl hacked to death

Staff Reporter

Body found in a pool of blood in her house

NUZVID: An 18-year-old girl was hacked to death at her house at Hajarayyapet SC Colony here on Thursday and the police suspected the involvement of a 20-year-old man, who was close to the girl and her family.

The body of Kotapadu Padmasri was found in a pool of blood in the backyard of her house on Thursday evening. She was last seen with her friend Mesupagu Karuna Babu, who was absconding now.

Padmasri was staying along with her father Srinu, elder brother and grandmother, while Karuna Babu was a relative of the girl’s neighbour Mariya Dasu.

Dropout

After discontinuing his graduation in a private college in Nuzvid, Karuna Babu, a native of Vissannapet, began visiting the house of Mariya Dasu frequently and used to be friendly with Padmasri. Though both families proposed their marriage, Karuna Babu sought six months time.

A couple of weeks ago, members of both families had a wordy duel over financial issues and the girl’s father declared his decision not to fix his daughter’s marriage with Karuna Babu.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Narayana Swamy suspected that Karuna Babu might have feared that the girl would be separated from him and resorted to the extreme step.

On Thursday evening, Karuna Babu met Padmasri at water tap when the girl was fetching water.

He followed till the backyard of the girl’s house and one of the neighbours of Padmasri saw them discussing something seriously.

A few minutes later, the neighbour saw the girl in a pool of blood. A case has been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.