Weeks after police arrested M Srinivas Reddy for allegedly raping and murdering three minor girls, whose bodies were eventually found in two wells in Telangana’s Hajipur village, the victims' families are demanding the case be tried in a fast track court. The villagers have also begun protesting and demanding the killer be hanged.
One of the minors, an 11-year-old from Maisireddypalli village had been missing since 2015. Her father, Nandan Thungani told TNM, "He should not live. He should be hanged; that’s justice. That is my only demand. This should serve as an example to those who even think of carrying out such heinous crimes."
On April 26, a 14-year-old girl’s body was found abandoned in a 50-feet deep dry well in the village. Three days later, when the Telangana police were searching for clues in the weel, they found the body of another girl – identified as a 17-year-old who had gone missing in March - in another part of the well.
The accused, Marri Srinivas Reddy, who is a 28-year-old mechanic, would prey on school and college going minor girls, keep track of their movements and offer them a lift on his bike. After gaining their trust, he would take them to an abandoned, 50-feet deep dry well that he owns and would push the victim into the well. Srinivas would then rape, murder and bury the victim inside the well. He was earlier accused in the murder of a woman in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, and was out on bail. He has since then been arrested and is awaiting trial at Warangal central jail.
On questioning Srinivas, the police found that his first victim was the 11-year-old girl, who was raped and murdered when she was returning home after visiting her aunt’s home at Hajipur village. Her body was dumped in another well that he owns, which is adjacent to the well where the other two bodies were found recently.
‘Death penalty will instil fear’: Families
Nandan, the 11-year-old victim's father, has been staying in Hajipur village, located in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, for the last two days, taking part in protests being organised by all neighbouring villagers. The villagers stormed the office of the District Collector on Saturday. Many of the villagers have reportedly been on hunger strike since Friday.
They all want the case to be moved to a fast track court, the accused hanged and the families of the victim are compensated. Some of the families of the three victims have sought government jobs as well.
The protests, however, saw some disruptions. “The police came, picked us up while protesting and detained us. They didn't tell us anything," added Nandan.
"This a demand not by the families of the victims but by the entire village. Even people of neighbouring villages are supporting us,” said Raju Tummala, father of the second victim.
When asked if capital punishment will really prevent such crimes in the future, he said, “At least it will instil some fear. Criminals should think twice before committing such a crime," added the father.
At their meeting with the District Collector, the villagers demanded the case be fast-tracked. However, they were told that any progress can happen only after the election results and the MCC was withdrawn.
"The officials have asked us to wait for a few days. They said they will try to appeal to fast-track the case in June," added Raju.
The protests by the villagers in the last two days have also caught the attention of the TRS working president KT Rama Rao. The former minister has requested the villagers to call off their protests and have assured them a speedy trial.
The villagers said they will continue their fight to seek justice for the victims. A sense of anger has gripped them than sadness.
"The government needs to make us feel safe. Schools are going to start soon and there is a sense of fear. We are scared for our children," said Narasimha, the uncle of the 11-year-old victim. “How can we not feel angry? Such small children were killed, that too, on their way to school.”
The villagers had earlier attacked the accused Srinivas’s residence.
They also blamed the officials for not providing bus services along the route that resulted in the minor girls being killed.
As a reactionary measure, at the insistence of the Rachakonda police, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) launched a bus service to Hajipur and nearby villagers so that school and college going youth benefit. There is only one service in the morning.
“The bus service is okay. It helps the children to some extent - but one more trip would be morning - the new bus is doing only one trip,” pointed out Narasimha.
(With inputs from Nitin.B)