Hyderabad: A large number of people, including the residents of Villa Orchids in Bollarum, staged a protest outside the Malkajgiri police commissioner’s camp office in Begumpet on Monday, demanding justice for the five-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted and killed by a former security guard. Before Malkajgiri police commissioner B Sumathi’s press meet, the protesters entered the conference hall and held placards bearing messages such as “She deserved to live” and “No mercy for cruelty”. They raised slogans demanding justice and expressed anger over the alleged crime committed by the accused, Vikram. Some protesters demanded that the accused be shown to them and punished immediately. While the victim’s parents were waiting to meet the CP, the protesters also sought an audience with her to seek assurances and clarification. The residents expressed disbelief at the police’s claim that Vikram Kumar alone had committed the murder. “The other security guard, whose SIM card Vikram used to call the girl’s family members for ransom, should also be held accountable. How did the security guard on duty allow Vikram to enter the premises, knowing fully well that he had already been terminated by their security agency?’’ a resident asked during the protest.However, the police said Vikram gained entry by telling the guard on duty that he had been hired to help organise the Bathukamma festival at the clubhouse. “Since Vikram had been on duty till few days earlier, the guard allowed him in. In fact, all the guards, including the accused, share accommodation in a room outside the gated community,” the police said.During the press meet, the CP admitted that the incident had undoubtedly caused concern among residents of gated communities in city. “This incident has proved that access control systems for entry and exit, as well as the presence of security personnel at gated communities, cannot assure safety. We feel that maintaining record of people entering and exiting the premises, along with background verification and re-verification of workers employed by gated communities, is important,” she said.Malkajgiri has 4.21 lakh residential clusters. As part of the police’s Mee Suraksha initiative, the security agency had earlier uploaded Vikram’s details as part of the routine process. Before leaving the premises, Sumathi assured the protesters that firm action was being taken to ensure that the accused was punished.
