Auto driver held for raping woman

VIJAYAWADA: Bapatla SP Vakul Jindal said an auto-rickshaw driver accused of raping a young woman has been arrested by Kolluru police on Saturday.

According to Jindal, the woman, a resident of Kreestulanka village of Kolluru mandal, went to her relatives’ house in Chilakaluripet for a function. While returning at about 9:45 p.m. she hired an auto in Tenali town to drop her at Kolluru village.

While on way to Tenali, she called her relative over phone, informed about her return and did not disconnect the call. When the auto reached Musalipadu village, the auto driver suddenly drove into maize fields, following which she tried to jump out from the auto. The auto driver caught and beat her before committing the rape.

As the phone had not been switched off, her relatives could hear the voices and reached the spot. They tried to catch the auto driver but he managed to escape from the spot.

Following a complaint, Vemuru police started investigating under the leadership of sub-inspector J. Samuel Rajeev Kumar. Police found a key chain with a photo, which the victim confirmed as the accused.

Police then took the help of technical evidence and arrested the accused Mogili Gopi Krishna alias Vasu of Tenali on Saturday.