Commissioner of Police (in-charge) N. Swetha has said that the police arrested six of the 23 persons identified as responsible for the attack and subsequent death of Malavath Devya at Chemgal of Bheemgal mandal.
Giving details of the incident at a press conference, here on Thursday, she said that a case was booked against the accused under Sections 302; 307; and 342 IPC read with 34 and Section 3(2) of SC, ST (POA) Amendment Act-2015 at Bheemgal police station.
She said that the residents of Chemgal caught hold of Malavath Devya and his brother-in-law Degavath Lalu when they went to Kasigutta on the outskirts of the village for mangoes suspecting them to be kidnappers and thieves.
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The villagers detained the two at the VDC office and thrashed them. Learning of the incident SI of Police rushed to the spot and shifted the seriously injured duo to MJ Hospital in Armoor. With the condition of Devya turning critical he was shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad where he died.
Based on the complaint lodged by Ms. Jagi, wife of Devya, the case was registered, the Commissioner said.
The police arrested Chakkadi Bikshapathi, Chevula Srinivas, Chakali Naresh, Sirolla Rahul, Thoparam Vineeth and Mohini Naresh. Special teams were formed to nab the remaining accused persons who were on the run, Ms. Swetha added.
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She said that the heinous offence was triggered by baseless rumours spread over social media on the movement of dangerous gangs to kidnap women and children. She warned the rumour mongers that they were liable for severe punishment under IT Act. She also appealed to people not to get carried away with false messages and if they come across strangers who are moving suspiciously to call the police.