Lecturer found alive after late-night abduction; investigation under way
Guntur — A college lecturer who went missing while returning home at about 9 pm was rescued in the early hours of Sunday after police arrested several suspects near Jonnalagadda in Guntur district, officials said. The incident prompted a rapid search after the family reported his disappearance and police located his two-wheeler near a ditch close to his residence.
According to police records made available, the victim, identified as Patri Srinivas, failed to return home on the night of the incident. Family members filed a missing-person complaint, and officers discovered the lecturer's motorbike abandoned on a roadside near a drain. The discovery triggered a focused probe by the city police and the Singhnagar police station.
Investigators reviewed closed-circuit television footage as part of the initial inquiry. Srinivas had earlier complained to the city police commissioner and to Singhnagar police about an incident in which he claimed to have identified Dr Keshava Rao and associates on CCTV performing a reconnaissance of his house the previous month, records show. Whether that earlier episode is connected to the abduction remains undetermined.
- Missing-person complaint: Srinivas's family reported him missing after he did not return at around 9 pm.
- Discovery of vehicle: The lecturer's two-wheeler was found near a ditch close to his home.
- Police response: Singhnagar police tracked and intercepted suspects near Jonnalagadda around 2.30 am on Sunday.
- Rescue: Srinivas was rescued while the suspects were reportedly tying him up and assaulting him.
Singhnagar police located the abductors in the early morning hours and arrested those allegedly involved in the offence. Officers said Srinivas was found at the scene in the process of being restrained and reportedly assaulted; he was taken into protective custody and removed from immediate danger. The motive for the abduction and the precise circumstances leading up to it are still being established by investigators.
"The police rescued Srinivas when the kidnappers were allegedly tying him up and assaulting him," officials said.
Police confirmed that CCTV material forms a key element of the ongoing inquiry. The earlier complaint lodged by Srinivas — naming Dr Keshava Rao and his associates after he alleged they were seen in CCTV footage near his home conducting a recce — has been recorded by the city police commissioner and Singhnagar station, according to official accounts. Authorities have not yet released details of charges filed or the number of persons taken into custody.
| Event | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Lecturer leaves for home | Around 9 pm |
| Family files missing-person complaint | Late night (same day) |
| Two-wheeler found near ditch | After complaint |
| Suspects tracked near Jonnalagadda | Around 2.30 am (Sunday) |
| Lecturer rescued | Shortly after suspects apprehended |
Local residents and the academic community are likely to follow the case closely, given the victim's role as a college lecturer and the allegation that he had earlier identified individuals near his home on CCTV. The episode has underscored public concern about targeted threats and the need for timely police response in Guntur's residential areas.
Investigators have not publicly disclosed whether the arrested persons include those Srinivas had earlier named, nor have they detailed any legal steps initiated against Dr Keshava Rao. Police said the motive behind the abduction remains unclear and further forensic and testimonial evidence is being gathered.
Officials indicated that the inquiry will continue and that further statements and charges will be announced after completion of preliminary procedures. The Singhnagar police, working with the city police commissioner’s office, are expected to present more information to the public as the investigation proceeds.
This account is based on information provided by police and initial reports filed after the incident. No official court filings or charge sheets have been cited in the available details.
