Vijayawada:
It is now almost certain that nine-year-old Vaishnavi's brutal murder was the result of a family dispute arising out of her father Prabhakar Rao's two marriages. (
Read & Watch: Child kidnapped, killed; now, father dies)
It is now almost certain that nine-year-old Vaishnavi's brutal murder was the result of a family dispute arising out of her father Prabhakar Rao's two marriages. (Read & Watch: Child kidnapped, killed; now, father dies)
Vaishnavi was the apple of her father's eye. Every night she slept on her father's chest. Tragically, her ashes also rested on her father's body during their last journey. The 53-year-old liquor magnate, also one of Vijaywada's well-known financiers, suffered a heart attack and died, just hours after he learnt of Vaishnavi's brutal killing. The little girl's remains were found in neighbouring Guntur district.
The police are closing in on the first wife's brother, Venkaravamma, believed to be the mastermind of the plot. Venkaravamma, Rao's first wife, was unhappy with his second marriage and there were property issues. Even today, she remains defiant. "If a man goes to another woman, leaving his wife and children, there will be many problems," she says.
Meanwhile, the public is demanding stringent punishment to set an example for anyone hiring killer gangs. "Whoever is responsible for this should be punished immediately so that no one should even think of attempting something like this."
Reacting to the public outrage, the chief minister has announced the setting up of a fast-track court to hear this case.
NDTV's sources in the Vijaywada police say that three teams of killers - locally known as 'quotation gang' - were hired to kidnap and kill Vaishnavi. In fact, Vaishnavi was kidnapped for ransom in 2005 as well - and so this time, she pleaded with her kidnappers to release her as her "daddy would give them money." But the abductors had something else in mind.
The manner in which Vaishnavi was killed has left Vijayawada very disturbed, more so with Rao's subsequent death, unable to bear the shock of his daughter's death.
"The common man is feeling insecure. The government should open its eyes and act in a manner, which makes the people feel safe," said Chandrababu Naidu, Leader of the Opposition.