Vijayawada: Pedanandipadu police of Guntur arrested two accused in the brutal rape and murder case of 64-year-old Yarla Ramana.
The accused, identified as Palaparthi Manju and his elder brother Palaparthi Samba, were arrested following an extensive investigation by three police teams.
According to Prathipadu CI G Srinivasa Rao, Ramana, a resident of Pedanandipadu village, lived in a hut near the Primary Health Centre (PHC). She followed a daily routine of cleaning the Sai Baba temple at 4 am. On February 2, when she failed to arrive at the temple, watchman Devarakonda Ratnam informed her daughter, Pallapu Veeramma.
Upon visiting Ramana’s house, they found her lying dead with stab wounds on her neck, blood stains on her private parts, and signs of sexual assault. Based on witness statements, police suspected the involvement of Manju and Samba, both with a history of similar crimes.
Manju was recently released from jail on February 1, following imprisonment for a previous rape and murder case. A case was registered based on a complaint by Veeramma, and an investigation was launched. With no mobile phone usage by the criminals, the police relied on forensic evidence, fingerprints, and CCTV footage from Pedanandipadu and nearby villages. Searches were conducted at their relatives’ residences in Perecharla, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, and Hyderabad.
After days of evading police, the accused were located and arrested in Pedanandipadu on Friday evening. During interrogation, Manju and Samba confessed to targeting elderly women living alone, raping, and murdering her. They admitted to previous crimes and petty thefts to support their addictions. Manju is unmarried, while Samba’s wife left him due to his criminal behaviour. Both accused were produced before the court for judicial remand.
