Telangana murder fallout – Tough action promised

One day after the burnt body of Dr Priyanka Reddy, a 26-year-old veterinarian was found near Hyderabad, a Telangana Minister offered statements defending the police response.

The minister said that the incident could have been averted if she had called the police instead of her sister when she found people around her behaving suspiciously.

We are saddened by the incident, the police is alert and controlling crime. She was an educated woman, and yet she called her sister instead of 100. Had she called 100, she would have been saved. 100 is a friendship number, and we have to spread awareness on this among the people –  Mohammed Mahmood Ali Telangana Home Minister

Mr Ali claimed Telangana’s police force is the most efficient in the country, and promised that the culprits would be identified and punished soon.

Priyanka went missing on Wednesday night on her way home after work. Police investigations show that on her way back, she stopped at a toll booth, parked her bike and took a cab to visit a doctor. When she came back, she found the tires of the two-wheeler punctured.

The victim called her sister soon after. An audio recording of the call shows that someone offered to fix her tire and that she was feelings scared as some people around her were acting suspicious.

Police believe that Priyanka may have been raped before being murdered and burnt. Four people have been taken into custody.

Telangana Director General of Police Mahendar Reddy has called the murder “gruesome and atrocious”. He has promised to try the accused in a fast-track court. “Deeply pained and anguished. Telangana police will do everything possible to catch the offenders at the earliest and get them convicted through a fast-track court. Anyone, anytime, anywhere in distress, please dial 100,” he said in a tweet.

Reddy also said that women should not hesitate to contact the police. “If you face any problem or suspect any danger commuting at odd hours, isolated places or if your vehicle breaks down!

The Centre plans to issue an advisory to all states after the incident asking for steps to be taken to prevent crimes against women.