In a significant development, the ASR district police in Visakhapatnam have successfully unraveled the disturbing events surrounding the rape and murder of an 11-year-old tribal girl.

Two individuals, identified as Pangi Ramesh (19), an auto-rickshaw driver, and his associate Gemmili Seethanna (19), a farmer, have been arrested in connection with the heinous crime.

The victim, a Class-V student at a government school in GK Veedhi mandal, belonged to a remote village.

On January 2, when her parents returned home, they tragically discovered her lifeless body hanging from a log in their house.

Initially interpreting the incident as a case of suicide, the family refrained from informing the police and conducted a ritualistic burial in the hilly area of the village on the evening of January 3, as explained by Inspector G Ashok Kumar of the GK Veedhi police station.

Following the cremation, a relative of the victim noticed injury marks on the girl's neck and body.

Learning later that a young person had entered the house when the girl was alone, the parents grew suspicious about the circumstances surrounding their daughter's death.

Consequently, on January 5, they approached the GK Veedhi police station to report their concerns.

Inspector Ashok Kumar disclosed that the body was exhumed on January 6, and a team of medical experts conducted a detailed autopsy.

The investigation uncovered a horrifying sequence of events, revealing that Pangi Ramesh had sexually assaulted the victim when she was alone in the house on the morning of January 2.

Although some children witnessed Ramesh entering the house, they chose not to disclose this information due to threats from him. Fearing that the victim might reveal the assault to her relatives, Ramesh took the extreme step of ending her life.

This tragic incident underscores the importance of prompt and thorough investigations to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

The arrests of Pangi Ramesh and Gemmili Seethanna provide a measure of closure to the grieving family and the community affected by this dreadful crime.