Woman held for murder of 5-year-old niece in Korutla; police cite personal grudge

Hyderabad: Police have detained a woman in connection with the murder of a five-year-old girl in Korutla town of Jagitial district, citing evidence of a personal grudge and digital clues.

The victim, Hithiksha, was found dead with her throat slit in a neighbour’s bathroom on Saturday, triggering public outrage. Mamatha, the wife of the child’s paternal uncle, was taken into custody after police found inconsistencies in her account and digital clues pointing to her role in the incident.

Sniffer dogs brought to the area kept returning to Hithiksha’s house, leading investigators to search the home more closely.

The mobile phones of all household members were seized. CCTV footage from the area showed Mamatha visiting the vicinity five times between 6:30 p.m. and the discovery of the body.

Police said Mamatha allegedly held a grudge against her co-sister Naveena, Hithiksha’s mother, over household dynamics. Preliminary investigation suggests the murder was an act of revenge.

Video clips found on Mamatha’s phone are believed to be linked to the crime. Police also recovered the murder weapon and the clothing she wore during the incident, traced to a function hall on the town outskirts.

Officials said Mamatha had recently lost ₹25 lakh in online gaming and cryptocurrency investments. Her financial stress and domestic friction may have contributed to the motive, investigators said.