The five-year-old daughter of an agricultural scientist was kidnapped and killed by a security guard at a gated community in Secunderabad.
Police said that the child, Aureli Moses Fernandez, 5, was kidnapped on Saturday evening and was found dead later in the cellar of a clubhouse at Villa Orchids in Jowkur, Bollarum, where the family resides.
Aureli went missing while playing Saturday evening near her villa in Villa Orchids under the Bollarum Police Station limits.
Officers said that Vikram followed the child before kidnapping her. Her father, Milton Fernandez Moses, told police that the girl's grandfather received a call from an unknown number from a person claiming to have kidnapped the child.
The kidnapper, Vikram, demanded a ransom of Rs 20 lakh. Despite the family agreeing to pay the money, the accused switched off his phone.
Police registered a case based on a complaint by the parents and launched an operation to trace the child.
The body was later found dumped in a water tank with the hands and legs tied.
Police suspect the security guard murdered the child after demanding the ransom.
About 10 special teams were formed to nab the suspect. He had reportedly switched off his mobile phone near Secunderabad Railway station.
Police teams conducted searches in surrounding areas on Saturday night. Drone cameras are also being used in the operation.
According to residents of the community, the security guard was removed from his job about two days ago due to misbehaviour. He is suspected of having kidnapped and killed the child due to a grudge, as Aureli’s grandfather was part of the committee that sacked him due to the complaints from residents.
