Police in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district have arrested six men and detained a minor for allegedly repeatedly raping a 15-year-old Dalit girl over two years in Puttaparthi’s Edgurallapalli village. The case came to light after the survivor filed a complaint on June 9.
District Superintendent of Police V. Ratna said, “We have arrested all six main accused and are searching for seven others named in the complaint.” The arrested men include Achampalli Vardhan (21), Talari Murali (25), and four others aged between 23 and 51.
The survivor alleged that the group, which included 14 men total, took turns assaulting her since 2022. Police have registered the case under strict laws including the POCSO Act and IT Act, as they suspect the accused may have recorded the crimes.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the case, stating, “Such crimes will not be tolerated. We will ensure speedy justice and maximum punishment for the guilty.” However, opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy criticized the government, claiming, “This reflects the deteriorating law and order under the current administration. There have been 188 rape cases in our state just this year.”
