Daijiworld Media Network- Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 17: In a gruesome incident that has sparked outrage, a teenager has been apprehended for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a five-year-old boy in Telangana’s Uppal area, police said on Sunday.

The accused, employed at a timber depot, reportedly lured the minor on August 12 with a promise to buy him biscuits. He then took the boy to a secluded location near his residence, where he allegedly committed the assault and strangled him to death to prevent exposure.

When the boy did not return home after going out to play, his father filed a missing complaint at Uppal Police Station. During the probe, investigators scrutinised CCTV footage from the vicinity and spotted the child being taken away by the suspect. The accused was subsequently taken into custody on August 15.

Police said that during interrogation, the teenager admitted to the crime. The victim’s body was later found dumped in bushes near his house.

Authorities have sent the accused for an age-determination test at a state-run hospital, with further legal action to follow based on the report. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The heinous act has triggered shockwaves among locals, who have demanded stringent punishment for the accused. Police have assured that the matter will be pursued with utmost seriousness.