Dr. Priyanka Reddy case: The brutal rape and murder that left entire nation in shock

Dr Priyanka Reddy, a veterinary doctor from Shamshabad in Hyderabad was found dead with her body partially burnt under Chatanpalli bridge in Shadnagar on Thursday morning. She had worked as a doctor in Kolluru village.

The incident happened on Wednesday night. She was raped, smothered and then burnt by four men who are said to be hailing from Narayanpet.

Raped, smothered and burnt: Police

Four people were detained by the Cyberabad police on Friday. They were identified as Mohammad Areef (driver), Jollu Naveen (cleaner), Chennakeshavulu (cleaner), Jollu Shiva (driver).

The police said that the accused who were consuming alcohol at Shamshabad toll plaza saw Priyanka parking her scooter and hatched the plan to rape her. And one of them (Jollu Naveen) punctured the rear wheel of the doctor's scooter which was parked at a place.

When the doctor returned to take her scooter at around 9.18 pm, she realised one of the tyres got punctured. The prime accused Areef then approached on the pretext of getting the scooter fixed. Another accused Jollu Shiva took her scooter, on the pretext of getting it repaired, and came back after some time and told her that all the repair shops were closed.

The police said that the accused then raped the girl who died because of accused had covered her mouth and nose while committing the crime. The accused then wrapped the dead body in a blanket and took it to Shadnagar and burnt the body.

Cyberabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar said, "Our officer took them into a patrol vehicle and scanned the CCTV footage. The victim was also seen in the CCTV footage of the plaza. At around 3 pm, the family was brought back to book an official complaint. Till 5 am, we searched all puncture shops. The body was found at around 7 am."

I am scared: Priyanka told sister on call

Priyanka Reddy who returned home from clinic has gone to another clinic around 5.50 pm. She parked her scooter at the toll plaza and took a cab.

The doctor's younger sister told the police that her sister called her around 9.22 pm saying that she was at the toll plaza and waiting to get back her scooter from a person who took the vehicle for repair as it had a flat tyre.

"You keep talking until my scooter comes back. They are all waiting outside. I am scared," Priyanka told her sister. However, later he hung up telling her sister she would call soon.

Her sister said that Priyanka's phone was switched off when the former called her sister around 9.44 pm. When the family failed to reach her over phone, she drove to toll plaza but did not find her following a complaint was lodged with the police.

Priyanka's body was found burnt around 25 km from the toll plaza.

Home Minister's statement draws flak:

Priyanka could have been saved if she called the police instead of her sister, said the state Home Minister Mahmood Ali. However, the minister later clarified his remarks saying she was like her daughter.

"Deeply saddened by the mishap. Stern action will be delivered to the culprit," said the minister. "How anyone could subject another human being to such terrible, unprovoked violence is beyond imagination. My thoughts & prayers are with the victim's family at this time of immense grief," he said.