Retired Engineer’s Murder in Vijayawada: Caretaker and Husband Arrested

Swift Summary

• Machavaram police solved the murder case of retired assistant engineer B. Venkata Rama Rao, killed on July 10 at his residence in NTR Colony, Vijayawada.
• The accused are Pallapu Manga alias Anusha and her husband Vemireddy Upender Reddy. They used chilly powder and suffocation to kill the victim.
• Anusha worked as a caretaker in the victim’s house, looking after his 92-year-old mother Saraswathi; she had joined only days before committing the crime.
• The couple stole ₹90,000 from an iron safe and fled from Vijayawada to nellore in an auto-rickshaw, continuing onward to Chennai and Srikalahasti for temple darshan before returning to vacate their rented home at nulakapeta village in Guntur district.
• Police tracked them through CCTV footage and mobile data records; ₹41,000 of stolen cash was recovered during their arrest on July 14.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This case underscores serious vulnerabilities around employing domestic caretakers without thorough background checks or security measures – an issue particularly relevant amidst rapid urbanization in Indian cities like Vijayawada where older populations rely on hired help for care duties. Moreover, systemic coordination between law enforcement technologies such as CCTV data and mobile analytics proved pivotal in tracking down offenders promptly-a positive highlight for improving urban policing effectiveness across India. Though, it raises pressing questions about balancing personal freedom with strengthened verification standards for household workers.

Read more: The Hindu