Shabad mass murder: Did the killer’s ₹20 lakh deal with police cost six lives in Telangana?

On Saturday (June 11), Telangana woke up to a harrowing news. A POCSO case accused had killed six people, including the girl he stalked, her mother, grandmother, his wife and two children, after coming out on bail. The killings have terrified Daivalaguda village in Shabad mandal, a town centre located 45 km from Hyderabad. On the night of July 10, B. Raj Kumar (35) allegedly went on a killing spree. He first stabbed to death Lakshmi and her mother Rukkama at their home and then took Lakshmi's 17-year-old daughter, who had filed a POCSO case against him in May, to a nearby lake and killed her too. He then went home and killed his wife, Saritha, and two young sons.

Though Raj Kumar had reportedly been stalking the minor girl for more than one year and had allegedly threatened her mother that he would kill their family, the police were lax in framing the case, invoking bailable sections instead of applying more stringent ones. Allegations now abound that local police officers struck a deal with Raj Kumar, accepting a bribe of ₹20 lakh to help him secure bail. Once out on bail, Raj Kumar brought his elder son back from his in-laws' place and set his plan in motion.

Though the standard operating procedures (SoPs) of the Telangana Police department have been clear that POCSO cases shall be supervised by an officer of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police, this case was totally handled by the local sub-inspector and circle inspector. After taking office as Director General of Police, C.V. Anand had instructed that POCSO cases should not be taken lightly. Despite the police responsibility to monitor the accused, he was let out. After the murders, Raj Kumar reportedly called his parents to confess the crimes and his wish to end his life. Though he walked to nearby railway tracks and attempted suicide, he fled before a train arrived.

Telangana Police launched a massive manhunt, scaling up from seven to as many as 14 special teams searching across four states using CCTV footage, railway police and local intelligence. The Future City Police also announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, Shabad SI Ramesh was suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. However, many have criticised the failure to take any action against higher officials, who should have been supervising the case.

The latest reports indicate that Raj Kumar was in police custody, which Deputy Commissioner of Police Yogesh Gautam has denied, dismissing it as a rumour circulating on social media. Some reports speculate that the accused consumed poison and is being treated in a hospital. The Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samiti leaders K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao attributed the killings to what they called an administrative failure, with Harish Rao going on to demand Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's resignation and compensation for the lone survivor. The lax handling of the case exposed the chinks in the armour of the state police.

The killing of three members of the girl's family has orphaned a minor girl with a mental disorder. District authorities have announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased victims. Several leaders have visited the victim's house and announced financial aid for the remaining family members. The government has shifted her to an orphanage.