Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Jul 13: The man accused of murdering six people, including his wife, two young sons and three members of a family that had filed a POCSO case against him, was found dead on Monday, bringing an end to an intensive two-day police search.

The body of B. Rajkumar (29) was discovered in a real estate layout at Penjerla village in Kothur mandal of Telangana's Rangareddy district.

Residents alerted the police after spotting the body. Officers who reached the scene identified the deceased as Rajkumar, who had been absconding since the killings.

Police suspect he died by suicide, as a bottle believed to contain poison was recovered near the body. The remains were sent for post-mortem examination, while investigators began inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Future City Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi and other senior officials visited the spot as part of the investigation.

Rajkumar had been the subject of a massive manhunt after allegedly carrying out six murders in two separate attacks in Daivalaguda under Shabad mandal on the night of July 10. Police had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

According to investigators, Rajkumar allegedly committed the murders at two locations approximately six kilometres apart within a span of two hours. Shortly before midnight, he reportedly telephoned his father, confessed to the killings and indicated that he intended to end his own life.

His father subsequently informed the Shabad Police Station, prompting an extensive search operation.

Police said Rajkumar allegedly killed a 17-year-old girl, her mother Lakshmi, and her maternal grandmother Rukkama, before murdering his own wife Sarita and their two sons, aged four years and 18 months.

Investigators alleged that all six victims were stabbed before their throats were slit.

The probe found that the accused first entered the residence of the minor girl on Kummariguda Road in Shabad, where he allegedly killed her mother and grandmother before abducting the teenager. Her body was later found in Daivalaguda village, around six kilometres away.

Police said Rajkumar and his parents had lived next door to the girl's family for several years before he shifted to another residence with his wife and children about six months ago.

Rajkumar had been booked in May under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on allegations of stalking and sexually harassing the minor girl. He had obtained anticipatory bail last month.

Investigators suspect the murders were carried out in retaliation for the criminal case registered against him.

Following widespread public outrage over the incident, Shabad Police Sub-Inspector T. Ramesh, who had been investigating the POCSO case, was suspended.

Members of the victim's family alleged that the officer had failed to arrest Rajkumar despite repeated complaints that he had threatened to kill the minor girl and her mother.