Dachepalli rapist ends life

Dachepalli (Guntur): Tension continued to prevail at Dachepalli in Guntur district for the second day on Friday, even after the news spread that Annam Subbaiah accused of raping the nine-year-old girl, three days ago, has allegedly committed suicide in a village about 10 km away.

The government has deployed more than 300 policemen as villagers demanded that Home Minister N Chinarajappa, who visited the village, show body of the accused Subbaiah to them. They stopped the convoy of the Ministers, including Chinarajappa and Minister for Agriculture P Pullarao for more than half-an-hour, on the main road at Dachepalli.

When they halted the convoy, Pulla Rao explained to the protesters that the government was dealing with the case as per the law and the body must be shifted for post-mortem examination. Chinarajappa explained that it would not be possible to hand over the Subbaiah’s body to the protesters, stating that the government was ensuring justice to the victim and her family. The protesters argued that they would not believe that Subbaiah died, until they see the body.

When the Ministers left from the protest place, the police warned the public against resorting to violence and imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC in the village. The police also deployed Fire Service Vehicles just in case the mobs turned violent.

Hundreds of protesters, including those of Muslim minority organisations, social organisations and others participated in the protests at Dachepalli. Majority of shops closed on Thursday and Friday at the village, as the protests continued.

In the afternoon, the police found Subbaiah’s lifeless body hanging from the branch of a tree at Amaralingeswara Swamy temple at Daida village in Gurajala mandal on the banks of River Krishna, on Friday. Daida is around 10 kilometres away from Dachepalli.

As family members of Subbaiah were afraid of entering Dachepalli since there was tension, the government ensured his cremation in Gurajala itself. Guntur Rural district Superintendent of Police Venkat Appala Naidu said: “We have found the body of Subbaiah at about noon and shifted it to Gurajala government hospital for a post-mortem examination.”

He said two separate cases have been filed – one for rape and the other for suicide in two police stations. A case filed against Subbaiah at Dachepalli police station under crime number 91/2018 under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) He claimed that the police have evidence that the girl was raped, and they would be presented in the court. As accused is dead, the case will be closed, he said.

The locals feel that Subbaiah might have not committed suicide. “He may have been murdered. The police have come out with proper reason for Subbaiah’s suicide,” one local said. On the other hand, Subbaiah, in his last telephone conversation with his relatives explained that he deserved death punishment as he committed a sin. He said he brought shame to his family and now entire village has turned against his family. Subbaiah had married twice but his two wives had walked out on him.

By Sambasiva Rao Madamanchi