A three-year-old girl was raped and murdered by her relative in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. The 22-year-old accused, who lived in the same colony, had lured the child with chocolates and taken her to the field on Friday. He buried the body after killing her in the field, police said.
When the girl didn't return home, her parents started searching for her. They eventually filed a police complaint claiming they had last seen her with the accused.
During questioning, the accused confessed his crime and was taken into custody, said Superintendent of Police L Subbarayudu.
"He behaved suspiciously. When we questioned, he confessed to the crime. He said he had taken her to an open ground near the school and sexually assaulted her. He then killed and buried her body in the field," the SP said.
The victim's body was retrieved and sent to the Puttur Government Hospital for post-mortem. The SP said the victim's mother treated the accused like her brother. He would often spend time at their house and play with the child.
"Who will suspect he would do this? He was like a family member," said a neighbour.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for the family. Home minister Anita Vangalapudi will visit the family tomorrow.
Nagari MLA Gali Bhanu Prakash has demanded severe punishment for the accused.
