In a grim sequence of events in Tenali district of Andhra Pradesh, three women have been arrested for allegedly poisoning strangers with cyanide-laced drinks to rob them of their valuables. According to the Andhra Pradesh police, the accused, identified as Munagappa Rajini, Madiyala Venkateshwari, and Gulra Ramanamma, are believed to have murdered four individuals, including three women, using this method.
The police disclosed that these crimes date back to June of this year, starting with the murder of a woman named Nagur B. The trio also attempted to murder two others who survived the poisoning. The authorities have successfully recovered cyanide and other incriminating evidence from the suspects’ possession, and have detained a man accused of supplying the cyanide used in these crimes.
Madiyala Venkateshwari, one of the accused, has a history of criminal activities. The 32-year-old previously served as a volunteer in Tenali for four years before travelling to Cambodia, where she was reportedly involved in cybercrime.
The case has revived memories of the notorious Jolly Joseph cyanide killings in Kerala, where a woman was convicted of murdering six people over a span of 14 years using a similar modus operandi.
Tenali’s Superintendent of Police, Satish Kumar, confirmed that the women had confessed to their crimes. In light of these events, the police are urging the public to exercise caution and avoid trusting strangers readily.
