The victim Tandhra Akshitharani
HYDERABAD: An engineering student who had gone to a coal mine for a 12-day internship was allegedly killed by her former lecturer after he learnt that she had been sexually exploited by an overman at the mine, police said. The victim, Tandhra Akshitharani (20), a native of Garrepalli in Sultanabad mandal, was allegedly forced to consume pesticide by her former lecturer, Jetty Naveen Kumar, on September 12. She died while undergoing treatment at a government hospital on September 13. Akshitharani completed her diploma at Singareni Polytechnic in Naspur, Mancherial district, in 2022, according to police. On September 12, Naveen Kumar allegedly picked up Akshitharani in his car and drove around with her before forcing her to consume pesticide.
Police said Ravikumar, who was working as an overman at the mine, introduced himself to Akshitharani as a former student of Naspur Polytechnic and a student of Naveen Kumar.
Police said Naveen Kumar later made her write a suicide note and tried to pass off the incident as suicide. Their acquaintance grew into a close relationship, police said. Police said he then made her write a suicide note in an attempt to make the death appear to be a suicide.
Overman Bommakanthi Ravikumar, who was also arrested in connection with the sexual assault case, was remanded in judicial custody. Naveen Kumar, who was working as a contract lecturer at the college at the time, was also from Garrepalli. He allegedly began sexually harassing her.
Peddapalli DCP Ram Reddy said police arrested Naveen Kumar in Godavarikhani on Sunday based on CCTV footage, call records and other technical evidence.
After her family shifted to Godavarikhani, she joined a coal mine there in January for a 12-day internship as part of her course. Naveen Kumar, who was living separately from his wife following differences, allegedly assured Akshitharani that he would marry her. She later joined Osmania University to pursue a BE in mining.