Amaravati: The murder of a seven-year-old Muslim girl in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district has triggered an outrage. Asfiya Azam went missing while playing near her house in Punganur town on September 29. Her father Azmatullah had lodged a missing complaint with the police. Even though search operations were carried out with the help of a dog squad with 11 special police teams, the entire operation turned futile.
On October 3, locals informed the police that a dead body was seen floating in the summer storage tank. The police immediately reached the spot and after examining it concluded that the body was that of the missing girl. Questions on how she ended up in the summer storage tank remain unanswered. Police said that a clues team was deployed, and the mobile signals and CCTV footage were under verification in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, former minister and YSR Congress leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and his son and MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy met the girl’s family members and consoled them.
They expressed their deep sympathies and assured the family that YSRCP would stand by them during this incredibly difficult time.
Ramachandra Reddy strongly condemned the incident, stating that such a horrific crime had never occurred in Chittoor district before. He criticized the police for their delayed response and questioned their inaction in handling the case.
The former minister urged the authorities to immediately apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime and deliver justice to the grieving family.
He announced that YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit the family of Asfiya on October 9 to offer his support and condolences.
YSR Congress Party’s women’s wing president and MLC Varudu Kalyani has expressed deep anguish over the brutal murder of Aafiya. She found fault with the police for failing to locate the child, despite the family’s complaints. She said if the police had responded promptly, the child’s family would not be suffering this tragic loss.
The YSRCP leader also alleged that the police are trying to downplay the case without proper investigation, even though the victim’s body bore visible injuries.
She criticized the government, saying women are living in constant fear under the TDP-led coalition administration, and cited recent cases of violence against women across the state, including the murder of a girl in Nandyal district.
Kalyani also pointed out that during the previous government’s tenure, the Disha App and police played a crucial role in protecting women. She accused the present government of neglecting women’s safety and demanded justice for the victim.
