TrivandrumLife>> One of the fastest settled rape case has got a bizarre twist. Kattakada-native Rajesh Kumar, who was awarded death sentence for rape and murder of a school girl in Vattappara in 2013, has escaped from Nettukaltheri open prison along with another murder convict by around 5 pm on Wednesday.
Police have issued a look out for the duo – Rajesh Kumar and Tamil Nadu –native Srinivasan. Both were serving jail term at the annex of the open jail for the past eight month. Rajesh and Srinivasan were engaged in rubber tapping works along with around 13 inmates who were lodged at the annex. Sources in the Prison department said that the jailbreak came to their notice when the count of inmates was taken by around 9 pm.
The rape and murder of Class X student at Vattappara that took place on March 6, 2012 and the sentence within ten months had attracted nation-wide attention. After principal sessions judge B Sudheendra Kumar awarded death sentence on June 2013, it was hailed as one of the fastest settled rape and murder case in the country.
The girl was preparing for her Class X board examination when the heinous crime occurred. The auto of Rajesh met with a minor accident at Vattappara and he approached the girl for help. Realising that she was alone at home, Rajesh raped and strangled her to death. He also took away her gold ornaments worth 1.5 sovereigns.
Srinivasan too was convicted of murdering a woman. The prisons department has informed Neyyardam police on Wednesday itself. Police visited houses of both convicts on Wednesday, but couldn’t find any information about them.
Jisha Surya is a media professional with over a decade of experience in various media houses including The New Indian Express and Times of India. She covers city infrastructure, social issues, and lifestyle stories.
