25‑year‑old arrested for rape and murder of 6‑year‑old in Prakasam village

A 25‑year‑old man was arrested for raping and killing a six‑year‑old girl in Chadalavada village, Naguluppalapadu mandal, Prakasam district on Monday morning. Police identified the accused as Ajjam Anand Babu, a resident of the same village. The child's parents were away in Hyderabad doing daily‑wage work, leaving her under her maternal grandmother’s care. According to police, Anand Babu acted while under the influence of ganja (cannabis). Villagers caught him shortly after the crime and turned him over to authorities. A case was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and investigators have been ordered to monitor the probe closely. Police said the investigation will be swift and closely monitored. District Collector P. Raja Babu and Superintendent of Police V. Harshavardhan Raju inspected the body at Ongole Government General Hospital mortuary and expressed deep sorrow. The collector met the victim’s relatives, announced an immediate cash aid of one lakh rupees, and promised to allocate a government house since the family owns no home. He pledged steps to stop similar incidents and to eradicate ganja, which he said fuels criminal acts. The administration said it will keep the case under constant surveillance. Also present were RDO Chandrasekhar Naidu, ICDS Project Director Padma Sunanda, GGH Superintendent Manikya Rao, Deputy Superintendent Kiran and other officials.

Context

The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, mandates strict penalties for sexual offences against children and provides for state‑sponsored relief to victims’ families. Ganja cultivation is illegal in Andhra Pradesh, and authorities often link drug use to violent crime. Andhra Pradesh has launched multiple campaigns in recent years to curb illegal drug use.