HYDERABAD: An engineering student who had gone to a coal mine for a 12-day internship was allegedly killed by her former lecturer after he learnt that she had been sexually exploited by an overman at the mine, police said.The victim, Tandhra Akshitharani (20), a native of Garrepalli in Sultanabad mandal, was allegedly forced to consume pesticide by her former lecturer, Jetty Naveen Kumar, on September 12. Police said Naveen Kumar later made her write a suicide note and tried to pass off the incident as suicide. She died while undergoing treatment at a government hospital on September 13.Peddapalli DCP Ram Reddy said police arrested Naveen Kumar in Godavarikhani on Sunday based on CCTV footage, call records and other technical evidence. Overman Bommakanthi Ravikumar, who was also arrested in connection with the sexual assault case, was remanded in judicial custody.According to police, Akshitharani completed her diploma at Singareni Polytechnic in Naspur, Mancherial district, in 2022. Naveen Kumar, who was working as a contract lecturer at the college at the time, was also from Garrepalli. Their acquaintance grew into a close relationship, police said.Naveen Kumar, who was living separately from his wife following differences, allegedly assured Akshitharani that he would marry her. She later joined Osmania University to pursue a BE in mining. After her family shifted to Godavarikhani, she joined a coal mine there in January for a 12-day internship as part of her course.Police said Ravikumar, who was working as an overman at the mine, introduced himself to Akshitharani as a former student of Naspur Polytechnic and a student of Naveen Kumar. He allegedly began sexually harassing her.Akshitharani subsequently complained to Singareni management against Ravikumar. The management constituted a committee to inquire into the complaint and, according to police, concluded that Ravikumar was not at fault. Police said Ravikumar later sexually assaulted Akshitharani.Naveen Kumar subsequently came to know about the relationship between Akshitharani and Ravikumar and allegedly decided to kill her, police said.On September 12, Naveen Kumar allegedly picked up Akshitharani in his car and drove around with her before forcing her to consume pesticide. Police said he then made her write a suicide note in an attempt to make the death appear to be a suicide.As Akshitharani lost consciousness, Naveen Kumar allegedly used her mobile phone to call her father and informed him about her condition. He then took her to a government hospital and fled, police said. Akshitharani died during treatment the following day.Investigators examined CCTV footage along the route, call detail records and other technical evidence before identifying Naveen Kumar as the accused, police said. He was subsequently arrested in Godavarikhani. Police also arrested Ravikumar in connection with the sexual assault case.
