Auto Driver Arrested for Alleged Attempted Rape and Murder in Telangana

An auto driver in Telangana's Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district was arrested for allegedly attempting to rape and murder an ST woman on August 31. The incident led to heightened communal tensions and violent clashes, prompting political leaders to intervene and call for peace.

An auto driver was apprehended for allegedly attempting to rape and murder a Scheduled Tribe woman in Telangana's Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, police disclosed on Thursday. The victim, a resident of Devuguda village, was en route to her mother's village in Soyanguda on August 31 when the incident transpired.

According to law enforcement, the 45-year-old woman from the ST Gondu caste was traversing towards Soyanguda through Raghavapur when she was struck by an unidentified vehicle. She was subsequently rushed to a local hospital and later referred to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. A complaint was filed on September 1 by her younger brother at the Sirpur (U) Police Station, initiating an official investigation.

In her statement, the survivor recounted boarding an auto owned by the accused, identified as Zainur Sonupatel, to reach Soyanguda. She alleged that the driver attempted to rape her during the journey. As she resisted and screamed, he knocked her to the ground and assaulted her with a stick, leaving her for dead. The driver fled the scene, assuming she had died, but a case was registered, and he was eventually apprehended. DSP Sadayya Panthati confirmed the incident.

The incident ignited communal tensions in Jainoor on Wednesday, with an enraged mob attacking and setting ablaze commercial establishments in protest. Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns about the unrest, urging peace and legal intervention in a communication to the Telangana DGP. He confirmed that additional forces were being deployed to stabilize the situation.

The BJP criticized the Congress-led state government for its handling of the situation, accusing it of playing politics over minority issues. They claimed attempts were being made to downplay the incident as an accident, attributing it to communal biases.

In response, the Telangana Chief Minister's Office stated that the law and order situation in Jainoor had been brought under control following the violent clashes stemming from the alleged incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)