Tribal woman found dead in Araku valley under mysterious circumstances

23-year-old Pushpa was an employee at a Mee Seva centre. Police suspect that she might have died due to strangulation.

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The residents and police of Araku valley were shocked to find the body of 23-year-old Pushpa on Saturday morning under mysterious circumstances. Pushpa’s body was found in the bushes near the Sarabhaguda colony in Araku valley mandal. While the case is still under investigation, Araku valley police have said that the cause of death appears to have been strangulation.

Police say that local residents were able to identify her easily, as she had been working in the local Mee Seva Centre. She had gone to work on Friday and had left her office around 6 pm, but never made it home. Police suspect that the murder occurred around 9 pm on Friday night.

According to the Araku valley police, Pushpa had been married to a 30-year-old man, and they had been living together for the past month in Araku valley. But the man was already married to someone else, and has two children. Police say that both women had been living only about a kilometre apart.

Police suspect that on finding out that the man had been living with Pushpa, his first wife might have taken the drastic step in anger. On initial investigation, it appears that Pushpa was strangled with her own dupatta, police said. They also confirmed that there were no signs of sexual assault.

Pushpa, who belonged to a Scheduled Tribe community, was a native of Chinnalabudu village. Her family occupation is farming.

Pushpa’s family members have lodged a complaint with the Araku valley police. The family had protested outside the police station on Saturday, demanding that action must be taken against the man and his first wife. Police have said that no one has been taken into custody so far. An FIR has been registered under IPC section 302 (for murder), as well as under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.