Ragpicker murders beggar for resisting sexual advances

VISAKHAPATNAM: Even as the city reels under the shock of a woman being raped in broad daylight at the Railway New Colony here, it has emerged that the beggar who was killed on October 17 at Kota Veedhi was murdered by a ragpicker for having resisted his sexual advances. 

The accused allegedly attempted to force himself on the woman after attacking her, police said.  
The accused has been identified as Sk Saleem (47), a resident of Kota Veedhi in One Town. Saleem left his house two years ago and began collecting waste paper and other materials to earn a livelihood.

According to One Town inspector Umakanth, Saleem earlier worked in a theatre and got married a few years ago. Caught in financial troubles, he left his house two years ago. He collects waste papers and other materials for his livelihood.  Two months ago, a 40-year-old woman came to One Town and started begging for a living. Saleem tried to befriend her, but the woman refused to it. 

On October 17 night, Saleem offered food to the woman and tried to harass her sexually.
“After the woman raised an alarm, Saleem took a cement brick and attacked her on the head. The accused gagged her when she started screaming. The accused didn’t rape the woman, but confessed that he tried to force himself on her,” said the inspector.Postmortem has been conducted and the body is still in the KGH as none has come for her, he added.