More children may have been sexually assaulted

Police follow up on Inaguduru Anganwadi child rape case

May 26, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:47 am IST - VIJAYAWADA:

Prithvi Nageswara Rao (60), who allegedly sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl at Inaguduru in Machilipatnam town, might have done the same to more children, police suspect.

The accused, an employee of the Weaver’s Welfare Society and a resident of Inaguduru, allegedly raped an Anganwadi school girl a few months ago. As her health deteriorated, parents admitted her to hospital and the doctors have reportedly confirmed rape.

Nageswara Rao committed the heinous crime several times on the girl in March this year. When the girl was suffering with fever, pain and other complications, parents shifted her to the local government hospital, which referred the case to Government General Hospital (GGH), Vijayawada.

“The culprit tracked the girl while she was going to school and playing with other children at the society building. He (Nageswara Rao) used to move with the children at the society’s office and at the Anganwadi. Only one crime committed by the accused came to light but he might have sexually assaulted more children in the locality,” said a police officer.

Machilipatnam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) D. Surya Sravan Kumar said the accused confessed to the crime and the police are investigating the case from all angles.

Residents to be questioned

“Police examined a few witnesses and recorded their statements. We are planning to question more residents in Inaguduru, including the parents of some other children,” the DSP told The Hindu on Wednesday.

GGH Superintendent M. Jaganmohan Rao said the girl was kept under observation and the urine culture test and blood test reports were awaited. A report on the observations of the specialists and the girl’s health would be submitted to the police soon, he said.

“We are giving antibiotic and pain killers to the child and she is recovering. Once we get the medical reports we will take the opinion from the paediatric doctor and discharge the patient,” said GGH Gynaecology Department head Dr. Indira.

Meanwhile, the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department officials visited the hospital and inquired about the case. Police, who arrested Nageswara Rao, are investigating about the place of occurrence of the crime and whether others were involved in the offence.

Departmental inquiry

“As the child was a student of an Anganwadi school, a departmental inquiry will be conducted on the role of the concerned Anganwadi teacher and worker and action would be taken if they were found guilty,” said the WD&CW officials.

District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Ch. Vijay Kumar said that as the case was booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the government would provide Rs. 1 lakh financial aid, provide institutional care and education. “We will extend all help and protection to the girl,” the DCPO said.

The Machilipatnam police follow up

on Inaguduru Anganwadi child rape case

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