Shabad Six-Murder Case: Telangana Police Form 12 Teams to Nab POCSO Accused

Telangana Police have stepped up efforts to capture P. Rajkumar (35) , the prime accused in the gruesome murder of six people, including his wife and two children, in Shabad mandal of Rangareddy district . The accused, who is also facing a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act , remains absconding, prompting police to launch a massive statewide search operation.

Future City Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi said on Sunday that 12 special police teams have been formed to trace the accused. Investigators are relying on technical evidence, CCTV footage, call data records, and information gathered from Rajkumar’s relatives and associates to track his movements. Police expressed confidence that the accused would be arrested soon.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Rajkumar meticulously planned the crime. A day before the murders, he allegedly rented a car from a private transporter after making an online payment using his wife’s mobile phone. Police traced the transaction and verified his movements through surveillance footage. However, while fleeing, the vehicle reportedly ran out of fuel, forcing him to abandon it near railway tracks under the Nandigama Police Station limits before escaping.

Search teams are now conducting checks at lodges, roadside eateries, railway stations, and other transit points in and around Hyderabad. Police are also verifying locations linked to his relatives in Srisailam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have circulated the accused’s photographs widely and announced a cash reward of ₹2 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

Investigators revealed that shortly after committing the murders, Rajkumar allegedly called his father and confessed to the crime. He reportedly told him that he intended to die by suicide before switching off his phone. Acting on the information provided by his parents, police conducted extensive searches near railway tracks and surrounding areas. However, no evidence suggesting that he had taken his own life was found. The Government Railway Police have also been alerted.

The exact motive behind the killings is still under investigation. Rajkumar was booked under the POCSO Act in May this year following a complaint that he had allegedly harassed a minor girl. He had recently secured anticipatory bail in the case. Police suspect that after his release, he killed his wife and two children before targeting three members of the complainant’s family in what appears to be a brutal act of revenge.

Family members have informed investigators that Rajkumar was addicted to online betting and gambling , which left him heavily indebted and under severe financial stress. Despite reportedly selling part of his property to clear some dues, he continued to struggle with mounting debts. Investigators also found that he had allegedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticide in October last year. The search operation continues as police pursue multiple leads to locate and arrest the accused.