Man Arrested in Tirupati for Serial Murders of Women Living Alone
Arrest Details and Allegations
Tirupati Police have apprehended a 45-year-old man alleged to be a serial killer, targeting women who reside alone. The arrested individual, identified as P Vishwanath, is believed to have carried out crimes across multiple states, primarily Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Officials report that he is linked to at least 21 offenses, including six confirmed murder cases, according to Special Investigation Team Additional SP (Crimes) A Srinivasulu.
Vishwanath reportedly employed numerous false identities, including names such as Prashanth, Ajit, Ajji, and Abdul. He obtained Aadhaar cards under these aliases, effectively concealing his true identity from authorities.
Criminal History and Mode of Operation
According to Tirupati SP L Subbarayudu, Vishwanath first raised suspicions in connection with a murder case in 2018. In the same year, he was arrested for a robbery and murder but managed to escape from the custody of the Kerala Police and has been on the run since then. As part of the investigation, the Kerala Police had issued a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information leading to his capture.
Post his escape, Vishwanath reportedly fled to Andhra Pradesh, where he took up driving an autorickshaw while engaging in various robberies. He is alleged to have had an accomplice who aided him in hiding and assisted in strategizing his criminal activities.
Recent Developments and Evidence Recovery
On January 11, law enforcement officials detained Vishwanath in relation to the murder of a woman in Ramachandrapuram. Following this, he was presented before a local court. Investigators have linked him to a total of 11 crimes in Andhra Pradesh, six in Kerala, and four in Karnataka, greatly expanding the scope of his alleged criminal activities.
In the course of the investigation, authorities recovered 127 grams of stolen gold jewelry, Rs 20 lakh in cash, and the autorickshaw reportedly used for committing his crimes. Additionally, Vishwanath’s female accomplice has also been arrested.
