Rising Murders Trigger Fear in Vizag
A series of murder cases reported in Visakhapatnam over the past several months has caused concern among residents, with police data indicating a steady rise in homicides in the city. Investigators said personal disputes, extramarital relationships, and financial motives were among the primary reasons behind the recent crimes.
According to police records, the city reported 24 murder cases in 2024 and 35 in 2025. So far in 2026, five murders have already been reported. Officials noted that several victims in the recent cases were women and that, in many instances, the accused were known to the victims or their families.
One of the cases that drew widespread attention involved Ravindra, an aircraft technician employed with the Navy, who allegedly murdered a woman identified as Mounika after becoming acquainted with her through a dating application. Police said the accused allegedly strangled the victim at a friend’s residence, transported the body in a trolley bag to his rented apartment, and later dismembered it before storing the body parts in a freezer. The incident sparked concern over crimes linked to online interactions.
In another case reported from Durganagar Sector-3 in Arilova, Lakshmi, who operated chit fund businesses, was allegedly strangled to death. The accused reportedly fled with gold ornaments and nearly ₹5 lakh in cash. Police said CCTV footage and mobile phone data helped investigators identify and arrest the suspect, who had reportedly come into contact with the victim through social media.
More recently, the murder of a woman identified as Parvathi in Akkayyapalem created panic among residents. Police arrested the accused and said further investigation into the case was underway.
Police records also showed that murders linked to theft of cash and gold stood at two cases in 2024, three in 2025, and two so far this year.
Senior police officials said surveillance had been intensified in sensitive areas and that investigators were relying increasingly on digital evidence and forensic analysis to solve cases.