Andhra police have arrested a man for the death of a 23-year-old Dalit woman, whose body was found in a pond 15 days after she was reported missing. Anantapur police arrested 28-year-old Jaffer Vali for the murder of Rama Devi, who belonged to the Madiga community of Scheduled Caste. She was working as a teacher in a private school in Narpala Mandal.

Rama Devi’s parents filed a missing person complaint with the Bukkarayasamudram police on March 6. The case was filed after they received a text message from her asking them not to look for her. Her body was found in a pond on March 21. The police had initially considered the death to be a case of suicide, but further investigation and showed that Rama Devi was murdered.

Investigation into the case revealed that Jaffer and Rama were in a relationship for the past four years. According to the police, their relationship had soured in the last few months as Rama Devi wanted to get married to Jaffer, who was already married. When Rama Devi and Jaffar met again, he killed her and threw her body in the pond. He then sent a text message from Rama Devi’s phone to her parents and himself, telling them not to look for her.

Meanwhile, Rama’s parents were convinced that she was murdered. The police zeroed in on Jaffer when they realised during questioning that he was trying to delay the investigation by misleading them. Jaffer was arrested on March 25 and charged with murder and provisions of the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act. The police are still awaiting reports of the post-mortem.